What About Face Theatre does

About Face Theatre is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company founded in 1995 by Kyle Hall and Eric Rosen, originally operating as About Face Theatre Collective. The organization advances LGBTQ+ equity through a portfolio of interconnected programs: mainstage theatrical productions (co-produced with Raven Theatre), the Queer Youth Ensemble for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18, Re/Generation Studio (a new work development series of public workshops and staged readings), and Life OUT Loud: Voices of Pride, a touring performance program that brings interactive LGBTQ+ educational content to schools and community organizations. Over nearly 30 years, the company has produced nearly 100 world premieres and is recognized as a national leader in developing new work exploring gender and sexual identity.

The company's core offering is structured around three primary program verticals—performance, education, and community engagement—delivered through venues that include Raven Theatre (Johnson Stage and Schwartz Stage) for mainstage work, Goodman Theatre's Alice Rapoport Center for education events, and its own office/rehearsal space at 1922 W Irving Park Rd. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its production infrastructure relies on standard theatrical production tooling plus third-party services (MailChimp for newsletters, Network for Good for donations, Eventbrite for event registration). There is no software product, app, or AI component underlying the operation.

The revenue model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack combining four streams: (1) individual donations including the About Face Futurists monthly recurring program at $10–$100/month tiers ($120–$1,200 annual) and major gifts via the Founders Society at $1,000+; (2) institutional and corporate grants from a broad base of funders including Alphawood Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Polk Bros Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Molson Coors, and others; (3) ticket sales from mainstage and special performances; and (4) special events including the annual Wonka Ball gala and anniversary fundraisers. Programming is largely free or low-cost (Re/Generation Studio is free and open to the public), with most revenue flowing from philanthropic sources rather than earned income.

Name

About Face Theatre

Legal name

About Face Theatre Company

Website

https://aboutfacetheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

About Face Theatre is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 that advances LGBTQ+ equity through mainstage productions, youth education, and touring performances, supported by individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Nonprofit Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• LGBTQ theatre productions
• New play development
• Youth theatre programs
• Community-based performing arts
• Nonprofit arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations through the About Face Futurists program ($10-$100/month tiers) and annual giving at various levels ($1-$9,999+). Donors receive season tickets and recognition benefits.
2. Special Events: Fundraising events including the annual Wonka Ball gala and the 30th Anniversary Party ($75 per person tickets) that generate significant revenue for education programs.
3. Institutional & Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations (Alphawood, MacArthur, Shubert, etc.) and corporations (Molson Coors) for specific programs and general operating support.
4. Ticket Sales: Revenue from mainstage productions and special performances at partner venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

About Face Theatre produces theatrical works that advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity, offering mainstage productions of new plays centering LGBTQ+ stories, year-round youth theatre programming for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18, a touring educational performance program (Life OUT Loud: Voices of Pride) for schools and organizations, and a new play development program (Re/Generation Studio) featuring public workshops, staged readings, and community gatherings for emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights and artists.

Product overview

About Face Theatre operates as a unified theatre company offering a portfolio of interconnected programs advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. The core offerings include Mainstage Productions (mainstage theatrical seasons featuring LGBTQ+ stories), Re/Generation Studio (new work development with workshops and readings), the Queer Youth Ensemble (youth theatre program), and Life OUT Loud: Voices of Pride (touring performance program). Supporting programs include the annual Wonka Ball fundraiser, Leppen Leadership Awards, and the About Face Futurists monthly giving program. The company also offers educational workshops and touring performances for schools and organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Re/Generation Studio: A series of public workshops and new play development programs focused on building the future of queer theatre. Features collective dreaming spaces, staged readings, and community building activities.
• About Face Youth Theatre
• Life OUT Loud: Voices of Pride
• Wonka Ball
• Leppen Leadership Awards
• XYZ Festival

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Mainstage theatrical productions centering LGBTQ+ stories, including seasons featuring new plays, revivals, and co-productions with partner theaters such as Raven Theatre. Produced for adult audiences and the broader LGBTQ+ community.
• Re/Generation Studio New work development program featuring public workshops, staged readings, community gatherings, and creative sessions for emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights and artists. Free and open to the public, hosted at venues such as The Alice Rapoport Center at Goodman Theatre.
• Queer Youth Ensemble (QYE) Year-round youth theatre program providing LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18 opportunities to create and perform original theatrical works in an affirming environment.
• Life OUT Loud: Voices of Pride Interactive touring performance program using monologues and improv to introduce gender-expansive vocabulary and healthy coping mechanisms to schools, communities, and organizations. Available as a touring production that brings LGBTQ+ stories to external venues.
• Touring Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached thousands of people annually through touring shows and educational programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Raven TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for mainstage productions including A Strange Loop (Season 32) at Raven Theatre's Johnson Stage and Schwartz Stage venues on Chicago's north side.
• Ways and Means TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producing the 10th anniversary reading of Le Switch by Philip Dawkins as part of Re/Generation Studio 2025-2026 programming.
• Goodman TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Re/Generation Studio events at The Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement at 170 N. Dearborn Street.
• Bramble Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Emerging Directors programming and visioning sessions as part of Re/Generation Studio.
• Remy Bumppo Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Emerging Directors programming as part of Re/Generation Studio.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Raven Theatre: Chicago-based theatre company and About Face's primary co-production partner for mainstage seasons. Direct venue partnership with overlapping programming but broader general-audience focus.
• Goodman Theatre: Major Chicago regional theatre that hosts About Face's Re/Generation Studio at the Alice Rapoport Center. Larger scale and broader programming but provides venue and programming infrastructure.
• Victory Gardens Theater: Chicago-based nonprofit theatre focused on new work development and diverse voices. Comparable new-play development mission and donor-funded model, but broader thematic scope than LGBTQ+-specific work.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago's flagship ensemble theatre and major nonprofit producing company. Comparable Chicago-based nonprofit theatre with broader programming focus and significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Celebration Theatre: Los Angeles theatre company dedicated to developing and producing work celebrating LGBTQ+ voices. Comparable small-scale nonprofit theatre with similar programming and mission orientation.
• New Conservatory Theatre Center: San Francisco theatre company producing LGBTQ+ programming alongside youth education and new work development. Comparable mission-aligned operations and donor-dependent revenue model.
• Diversionary Theatre: San Diego-based professional theatre company producing new work centered on LGBTQ+ stories since 1986. Direct peer in mission, programming model, and organizational scale (501(c)(3) with small staff and donor-funded operations).
• Theatre Offensive: Boston-based LGBTQ+ theatre company producing queer performance, youth programming, and touring shows. Comparable in focus on community-building, education, and touring to schools/organizations.

Others

• About Face Youth Theatre: Sub-brand of About Face Theatre providing year-round LGBTQ+ youth theatre programming. Internal program rather than independent peer, but operates comparably to standalone youth theatre education programs.
• GLSEN: National LGBTQ+ education organization that honored About Face's leadership with a Pathfinder Award. Operates in adjacent LGBTQ+ education and inclusion space and overlaps with About Face's touring school programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/AboutFaceChicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/aboutfacetheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/aboutfacechi
• Xx.com/aboutfacechi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about About Face Theatre