Harris Theatre
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Harris Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harris Theatre
- Legal name
- Harris Theater for Music and Dance
- Website
- https://harristheaterchicago.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harris Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Concert & Tour Promoters (MPAIAFAA)
Keywords
Where Harris Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Harris Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets and subscription packages for performances across HTP Mainstage, Mix at Six, Chamber Music Series, and resident company events. Handling fees apply per ticket.
- Venue Rental: The theater generates revenue by renting the venue to external organizations and companies for their own performances and events.
- Donations and Fundraising: Annual donations, Creative Future Fund, Planned Giving programs, and gala events support the nonprofit theater's operations. The 2023 announcement mentions a $5M gift and naming of auditorium.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Subscribe to 4+ HTP performances for 30% savings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single ticket purchases with varying prices |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Harris Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Harris Theater for Music and Dance is a nonprofit performing arts venue located at the north end of Millennium Park in Chicago. It presents world-class music and dance performances through its signature Harris Theater Presents (HTP) series, hosts 20+ resident companies and visiting artists, rents its 1,500-seat facility for external events, and streams select performances via its Virtual Stage digital platform. The venue operates with a Board of Trustees and is supported by ticket sales, handling fees, venue rentals, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Harris Theatre is a performing arts venue in Chicago presenting music and dance performances. Its core offerings center on the Harris Theater Presents (HTP) series, which encompasses Mainstage performances, Chamber Music Series, and Mix at Six evening concerts. The theater also hosts Resident Companies (local cultural organizations), offers Virtual Stage digital streaming, maintains a Digital Program Book archive, and provides venue rental services. The venue is located at Millennium Park and accommodates various performance formats from classical to contemporary.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Harris Theater Presents (HTP) Signature performance series presenting world-class music and dance artists across the HTP Mainstage, Chamber Music Series, and Mix at Six evening concerts. Targeted at performing arts audiences in Chicago.
- HTP Mainstage Flagship HTP performances featuring internationally renowned dance and music artists in extended runs. For performing arts audiences seeking premier dance and music experiences.
- Chamber Music Series Performance series featuring Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center musicians performing classical chamber music repertoire. For audiences interested in classical chamber music.
- Mix at Six Presented by Uber Freight Evening performance series featuring innovative contemporary artists in jazz, rock, and experimental genres, with performances lasting 60-75 minutes. Targeted at young professionals and weeknight entertainment seekers.
- Resident Companies Program Hosts 20+ local Chicago-based music and dance organizations that call the Harris Theater home. For Chicago cultural organizations needing a performance venue, administrative support, and audience development resources.
- Virtual Stage Digital streaming platform offering recorded and live-streamed performances for remote viewing. For audiences unable to attend in person or seeking on-demand content.
- Venue Rental Rental of the 1,500-seat theater space and facilities for external organizations, companies, and individuals for performances and private events. For external organizations seeking a downtown Chicago venue.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 800,000 households reached during COVID-19 pandemic with filmed operas (Haymarket Opera Company)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Harris Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Harris Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Harris Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Uber FreightcoreUber Freight is the presenting sponsor for the Mix at Six series for the 2026-27 season, showcasing innovative jazz and contemporary music artists in an early evening format.
- Irving Harris Foundation / Joan W. HarriscoreIrving Harris Foundation and Joan W. Harris serve as the Mainstage Sponsor for Harris Theater Presents, supporting the presentation of world-class dance and music performances.
- ITWminorITW serves as the Mainstage Dance Series Sponsor, supporting the presentation of dance performances at the theater.
- William BlairminorWilliam Blair is a program sponsor for Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project performances, supporting the visibility and impact of Black dance in Chicago.
- Haymarket Opera OrchestracoreChicago-based period instrument orchestra serves as resident ensemble for Opera Atelier's Handel performances and has partnered with the theater since 2010, presenting historically informed opera and oratorio.
- Jay Pritzker PavilioncoreThe Harris Theatre was jointly constructed with and underneath the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. The venues share dressing rooms and backstage space, with alternating performance seasons.
- Swissôtel ChicagominorPreferred hotel partner located at 323 W Wacker Drive, offering luxury accommodations near the theater for visiting performers and patrons.
- Avli on The ParkminorPreferred restaurant partner offering 10% discount to Harris Theater ticket holders. Located at 180 N. Field Blvd, 5-minute walk from theater.
- Sweetwater Tavern & GrillminorPreferred restaurant partner at 225 N Michigan Ave offering 15% discount on performance days to Harris Theater guests.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Harris Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University: Historic Chicago performing arts venue presenting music, dance, and theater in a comparable presenting/rental model. Direct local competitor for touring productions, resident companies, and Chicago arts audiences.
- Ravinia Festival: Chicago-area outdoor summer performing arts presenter featuring music and dance programming with similar presenting-organization economics, sponsorship dependencies, and resident company/visiting artist model.
- Symphony Center (Chicago Symphony Orchestra): Chicago's premier orchestral venue and presenter, sharing a similar presenting-organization model with subscription ticketing, donor-driven funding, and resident ensemble programming in the same Chicago Loop market.
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: Major Chicago performing arts presenter with its own venue, comparable subscription/donation revenue model, and direct competition for music and opera patrons in the same downtown Chicago catchment.
Broad incumbents
- Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): Iconic multi-venue performing arts presenter in Brooklyn operating the same model of presenting music, dance, theater, and opera through resident and visiting companies with subscription ticketing and donor support.
- Carnegie Hall: World-class concert hall and presenting organization with a comparable presenter/orchestra/chamber music subscription model, donor-driven revenue, and curated artist programming.
- Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Multi-venue New York performing arts campus hosting presenters comparable to Harris Theater Presents; shared music, dance, and chamber music programming model with subscription ticketing and major-donor fundraising.
- Music Center (Los Angeles): Multi-venue performing arts presenter in downtown Los Angeles operating a presenting organization with resident companies, donor-driven funding, and subscription ticketing in a major urban market.
Regional players
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago nonprofit theater with subscription model, large institutional donor base, and venue operations — comparable in nonprofit scale and governance, though focused on theater rather than music and dance.
- Goodman Theatre: Chicago nonprofit theater producing and presenting live performances with subscription ticketing, donor-driven revenue, and a comparable nonprofit operating structure — though focused on theatrical rather than music/dance programming.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harris Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceHarris Theatre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Harris Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harris Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Harris Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harris 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 Harris Theatre
What does Harris Theatre do?
Harris Theater for Music and Dance is a nonprofit performing arts venue located at the north end of Millennium Park in Chicago. It presents world-class music and dance performances through its signature Harris Theater Presents (HTP) series, hosts 20+ resident companies and visiting artists, rents its 1,500-seat facility for external events, and streams select performances via its Virtual Stage digital platform. The venue operates with a Board of Trustees and is supported by ticket sales, handling fees, venue rentals, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
Is Harris Theatre a public or private company?
Harris Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Harris Theatre founded?
Harris Theatre was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Harris Theatre based?
Harris Theatre is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Harris Theatre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are venue Rental and donations and Fundraising.
Who are Harris Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, Ravinia Festival, Symphony Center (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Broad incumbents are Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Music Center (Los Angeles). Regional players are Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre.
Does Harris Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harris Theatre.
What industry is Harris Theatre in?
Harris Theatre's product category is Performing Arts Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of MPAGALAC, Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7990.