Northlight Theatre
Northlight Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre founded in 1974, producing five mainstage productions annually plus education and community programs for Chicagoland audiences and relocating to a new 285-seat venue in Evanston in 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersSkokie, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Northlight Theatre does
Northlight Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre company founded in 1974 in Evanston, Illinois, currently operating as a resident company at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie ahead of a planned September 2026 relocation to its own purpose-built 285-seat venue at 1012 Church Street in downtown Evanston. The company produces five mainstage productions annually — a mix of contemporary dramas, musicals, and refreshed classics — supplemented by new play development (11 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards to date), student matinees, the Northlight Youth Council, community writing residencies, and the Arts for Everyone free-ticket program serving 20+ Chicagoland social service organizations. Revenue is generated through individual ticket sales ($39–$89), three subscription tiers and three Flex Pass tiers ($159–$295), an annual fund with giving levels from $100 to $20,000+, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, a capital campaign for the new facility, and rentals of costumes, props, and the scene shop to peer theatres including Drury Lane and Chicago Children's Theatre. GTM is direct-to-consumer via the website box office (Spektrix/Ticketmaster), a telephone box office, in-person sales, and a dedicated group sales function, with marketing across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, email, earned PR (Cathy Taylor PR), and community events such as Savor Evanston and the annual Gala. Leadership has been stable since the late 1990s under Artistic Director BJ Jones (since 1998) and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans (since 2007), with an approximately 30-person staff across administration, advancement, artistic, capital campaign, education, marketing, and production functions.
Northlight Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northlight Theatre
- Legal name
- Northlight Theatre
- Website
- https://northlight.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Northlight Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre founded in 1974, producing five mainstage productions annually plus education and community programs for Chicagoland audiences and relocating to a new 285-seat venue in Evanston in 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northlight Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theatre / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO), Theater & Performing Arts Ticketing (HSACALAC)
Keywords
Where Northlight Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Skokie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Northlight Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Individual ticket sales for mainstage productions. Regularly priced adult tickets range from $39–$89 depending on seat location and performance date. Preview performances offer lower price points.
- Season Subscriptions: Traditional 5-play subscription packages (save up to 40% off individual tickets) and Flex Passes (4 ticket credits to use at will). Subscription prices are all-inclusive with no handling fees. Senior discounts ($10 off) available on Wednesday shows.
- Donations and Annual Fund: Donations at multiple giving levels ($100–$20,000+) with escalating donor benefits including name recognition, event invitations, opening night access, Name-A-Seat opportunities, and backstage tours. The Visionaries Circle requires $1,500/year minimum. Monthly recurring donation option available.
- Capital Campaign: Capital campaign for the new theatre at 1012 Church Street in Evanston, scheduled to open September 2026. Accepts checks directed to the Capital Campaign, stock gifts, vehicle donations, and planned giving through the Northlight Legacy Society.
- Rental and Scene Shop Services: Revenue generated from renting costumes, props, and set pieces, custom scenic builds, CNC fabrication services, and scene shop facility rentals to other theatres and productions.
- Charitable IRA Rollovers (QCD): Qualified charitable distributions from IRAs for donors age 70½ or older, providing tax-advantaged giving option.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Play Preview Package — lowest prices for the full inaugural season |
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Play Standard Package — mid-tier full-season subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Play Value Package — most affordable full-season subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | All Access Flex Pass — use 4 credits for any performance, any section |
| Subscription | Annual | Classic Flex Pass — 4 credits for any performance in Standard or Value sections |
| Subscription | Annual | Preview Flex Pass — 4 credits for preview performances in Value section |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Adult Tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Fund Giving Levels — $100 to $999 |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Fund Giving Levels — $1,000 to $1,499 |
| Subscription | Annual | Visionaries Circle — $1,500 to $2,499 |
| Subscription | Annual | Presenting Sponsor — $2,500 to $4,999 |
| Subscription | Annual | Lead Sponsor — $5,000 to $9,999 |
| Subscription | Annual | Premier Sponsor — $10,000 to $19,999 |
| Subscription | Annual | Season Sponsor — $20,000+ |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels11 records
Northlight Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northlight Theatre is a nonprofit professional theatre company that produces five mainstage theatrical productions per year at an intimate 285-seat venue, selling individual tickets ($39-$89) and multi-tier season subscriptions and Flex Passes. It supplements ticketing revenue with arts education programs (Build A Play, Speak Up, Student Matinees, Youth Council, Highlights), the Arts for Everyone free-ticket community access program, scene shop and costume/prop rental services to other productions, and a robust donor and capital campaign fundraising operation supporting its move to a new owned Evanston facility opening September 2026.
Product overview
Northlight Theatre is a professional, non-profit theatre company that operates as a single, unified performing arts organization with a primary venue-based offering. Its core product is mainstage theatrical productions (five annually), supplemented by education programs (Build A Play, Speak Up, Student Matinees, Youth Council, Highlights), community engagement initiatives (Arts for Everyone, Savor Evanston), audience enrichment (Backstage with BJ, Post-Show Discussions), and operational services (Venue/Scene Shop rentals including costume and props rentals, custom builds, and CNC fabrication). The organization generates revenue through ticket sales (individual and subscription packages), donations, grants, and rental/service fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mainstage Productions
- Season Subscriptions and Flex Passes
- Education Programs
- Student Matinees
- Arts for Everyone
- Venue and Scene Shop Rentals
- Northlight Youth Council (NLYC)
- Northlight Gala 2026 and Show Stoppers Auction
Quantifiable outcome
- Free tickets provided to 20+ social service organizations per season through Arts for Everyone program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Northlight Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Northlight Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Northlight Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- The Barn SteakhouseminorRestaurant located at 1016 Church St, directly behind the new theatre. Offers Northlight attendees 10% off food and beverage with same-day ticket.
- The Addled BunnyminorPub at 1010 Church St, Northlight's direct neighbour. Offers Northlight audiences 10% off food with same-day ticket.
- Core & Rind Hospitality (Blue Horse, Taco Diablo, Five & Dime, Lulu's)minorRestaurant group one block from theatre. Spend $75 pretax and receive a $15 gift certificate for future dine-in. Multiple cuisine options available.
- LeTour Social Kitchen & BarminorRestaurant at 625 Davis St, 0.2 miles from theatre. Offers Northlight attendees 15% off their final bill with same-day ticket.
- The Barn SteakhouseminorHospitality partner offering Northlight patrons 10% off food and beverage with same-day ticket.
- The Addled BunnyminorNeighbouring pub with 10% discount for Northlight ticket holders.
- Core and Rind HospitalityminorRestaurant group offering a $15 gift certificate for every $75 spent by Northlight ticket holders.
- LeTour Social Kitchen & BarminorDining partner offering 15% discount to Northlight patrons.
- KoiminorRestaurant partner in Evanston.
- Nothing Bundt Cakes (Skokie)minorHospitality partner providing in-kind support.
- Doubletree by Hilton Chicago North ShoreminorHotel partner for visiting artists and patrons.
- Hecky's BarbecueminorHospitality partner providing dining benefits.
- League of Chicago TheatrescoreNorthlight is a founding member of the League of Chicago Theatres (one of the founders, Gregory Kandel, co-founded the League). League provides grants and advocacy for Chicago theatres.
- Evanston ScholarsminorNonprofit helping first-generation, low-income, and students of color with college access. Northlight helps students express their identity through creative writing.
- Family Focus (Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Group)minorNorthlight teaching artists lead grandparents in writing and performance workshops about their life experiences as caregivers.
- Levy Senior CenterminorNorthlight's Highlights program runs writing workshops via Zoom at the Levy Center, culminating in a printed collection of senior stories.
- McGaw YMCAminorWriting and storytelling workshops for YMCA residents, with completed pieces displayed at the facility. Supported by Catherine and Bart Rocca.
- Y.O.U. (Youth & Opportunity United)minorNorthlight has led Speak Up! theatre for social change residencies and improv masterclasses for Y.O.U.'s youth.
- Youth Job CenterminorWork readiness programming focused on conflict resolution and building positive workplace relationships. Supported by Suzanne and Dan Kanter and Libby Ester and Michael Brody.
- YWCA Evanston/North ShoreminorWriting, storytelling, and costume design workshops for women and children living in domestic violence residences. Supported by the Mammel Foundation.
- Galway International Arts Festival (Ireland)coreInternational co-production partner. Northlight produced its first international co-production (Chapatti) with GIAF and participated in several other productions with the festival.
- North Shore Center for the Performing ArtscoreNorthlight has been the resident theatre company at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie since 1997. The 2025-26 season is the last at this venue before the move to Evanston.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Northlight Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Court Theatre: University-affiliated Chicago nonprofit theatre producing a subscription mainstage season. Comparable peer in the Chicago nonprofit regional theatre ecosystem with similar educational mission and donor-supported model.
- Lookingglass Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit ensemble theatre producing original work and adaptations. Comparable peer in Chicago nonprofit regional theatre market with similar subscription, ticket, and donor revenue model.
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago-based nonprofit professional theatre company producing mainstage seasons. Comparable as a peer nonprofit regional theatre in the Chicago market with similar subscription and donor revenue model, though substantially larger in scale and budget.
- TimeLine Theatre Company: Chicago nonprofit theatre producing plays about history and contemporary social issues. Comparable peer in Chicago nonprofit regional theatre space with similar subscription model and education/community engagement programs.
- Goodman Theatre: One of Chicago's oldest and largest nonprofit regional theatres with a subscription model, education programs, and donor-driven revenue. Comparable peer in scale and operational structure, though larger and with multiple stages.
- Lifeline Theatre: Chicago North Side nonprofit theatre known for literary adaptations and original work for families and adults. Comparable peer as a mid-sized Chicago nonprofit theatre with subscription and education programming.
- Writers Theatre: North Shore suburban Chicago nonprofit theatre with a focus on new and classical work. Highly comparable as a peer suburban Chicago regional theatre with similar subscription, education, and donor-driven nonprofit model.
- Chicago Children's Theatre: Chicago nonprofit theatre focused on youth and family productions. An existing rental/scene shop customer of Northlight; comparable as a peer Chicago-area nonprofit theatre that also serves school and family audiences.
Regional players
- Milwaukee Repertory Theater: Regional nonprofit theatre in the Upper Midwest producing mainstage seasons. Comparable as a peer mid-size regional theatre with subscription, education, and donor-driven revenue, serving a nearby but distinct metropolitan market.
- Indiana Repertory Theatre: Indianapolis-based nonprofit regional theatre with a subscription mainstage season and education programming. Comparable as a peer mid-size regional nonprofit theatre with similar operating model, though in a different geographic market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Northlight Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceNorthlight Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northlight Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Northlight Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northlight Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northlight Theatre
What does Northlight Theatre do?
Northlight Theatre is a nonprofit professional theatre company that produces five mainstage theatrical productions per year at an intimate 285-seat venue, selling individual tickets ($39-$89) and multi-tier season subscriptions and Flex Passes. It supplements ticketing revenue with arts education programs (Build A Play, Speak Up, Student Matinees, Youth Council, Highlights), the Arts for Everyone free-ticket community access program, scene shop and costume/prop rental services to other productions, and a robust donor and capital campaign fundraising operation supporting its move to a new owned Evanston facility opening September 2026.
Is Northlight Theatre a public or private company?
Northlight Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Northlight Theatre founded?
Northlight Theatre was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Northlight Theatre based?
Northlight Theatre is headquartered in Skokie, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northlight Theatre make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions, donations and Annual Fund, capital Campaign, rental and Scene Shop Services and charitable IRA Rollovers (QCD).
Who are Northlight Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Court Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, TimeLine Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Writers Theatre and Chicago Children's Theatre. Regional players are Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Indiana Repertory Theatre.
Does Northlight Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northlight Theatre.
What industry is Northlight Theatre in?
Northlight Theatre's product category is Live Theatre / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGABAC, Touring Theatre Productions. Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.