Broadway Costumes

What Broadway Costumes does

Broadway Costumes is a Chicago-based theatrical costume rental company founded in 1886 (originally as Fritz Schoultz and Company) that operates one of the largest costume inventories in the United States, with over 300,000 costumes spanning historical periods from pre-historic to 1990s. The company serves theatrical productions (high schools, colleges, local theater companies, and national tours), TV and film productions (WGN Channel 9, WLS TV Channel 7/ABC), corporate events (Chicago Tribune, Palmer House Hotel), and individual consumers seeking masquerade and holiday rentals. Its core service is weekly rental of professionally altered, cleaned, and pressed costumes bundled with comprehensive costume plots—detailed character-by-character wardrobe breakdowns organized by act and scene that serve as a domain-specialized library for theatrical productions.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: theatrical production weekly rentals at $70.50–$78.50 per costume per production week with volume discounts for 50+ costume orders, individual and holiday costume rentals at $150 plus tax per costume with security deposits, and retail product sales (theatrical makeup, wigs, facial hair, tights, and crafting supplies) operated through a strategic partnership with sister company Chicago Costume. Distribution is centralized from the 4727 West Montrose headquarters in Chicago, with shipping available throughout the continental United States via external courier (Hawaii, Alaska, and international destinations excluded). Pricing includes size surcharges for chest sizes over 50 inches and late fees, with a sales-led GTM motion centered on costume plot requests, stylist consultations, and email/phone ordering.

Since May 2022, Broadway Costumes has operated as part of the Chicago Costume family of companies under the ownership of Courtland Hickey, who also owns sister companies Chicago Costume and Chicago Mascots; all three share the Montrose facility. The company employs 11–50 people, has no disclosed funding rounds or external investors, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. Broadway Costumes holds historical recognition including 1893 World's Fair medals and the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair official costumer designation, and former vice president Robert Schramm received multiple Illinois Theatre Association awards for mentorship and industry contributions.

Name

Broadway Costumes

Legal name

Broadway Costumes Inc.

Website

https://broadwaycostumes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Broadway Costumes is a Chicago-based theatrical costume rental company founded in 1886, operating a 300,000+ costume inventory serving theatrical productions, TV/film, corporate events, and individual consumers across the continental United States. Since 2022 it has been part of the Chicago Costume family of companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Costume Rentals: Primary revenue stream from renting costumes to theatrical productions including high schools, colleges, local theater companies, national tours, TV and film productions. Costumes are rented per production week with standard rental period of approximately 10 days, delivered Friday before opening night and returned Monday after final performance.
2. Individual/Holiday Costume Rentals: Single costume rentals for private masquerade events and Halloween, priced at $150 plus tax per costume with 3-5 day rental periods.
3. Retail Products: Sale of theatrical makeup, wigs, facial hair, tights, bodysuits, and crafting supplies through partnership with Chicago Costume. Items can ship with costume rental orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Broadway Costumes is a Chicago-based theatrical costume rental house founded in 1886 that rents costumes to theatrical productions, film and television, schools, and corporate events, while also offering single-costume rentals to individual consumers for holidays, masquerades, and themed parties. The company operates a 14,000-square-foot warehouse with a full alterations department that customizes costumes to character and time-period requirements, and retails theatrical makeup, wigs, facial hair, costume accessories, and sewing supplies through its store and online channels.

Product overview

Broadway Costumes operates as a theatrical costume rental company offering an extensive portfolio of over 300,000 costumes with services structured around three core pillars: (1) Theatrical Costume Rentals featuring show-specific collections with comprehensive costume plots, individual costume rentals, and a rental directory spanning historical periods, characters, military, science fiction, holidays, and specialty costumes; (2) Costume Plot Services providing detailed character-by-character wardrobe breakdowns organized by production scenes for theatrical clients; and (3) Retail Products including theatrical makeup, wigs, facial hair, tights, crafting supplies, and sewing shop materials available through the affiliated Chicago Costume partnership. The company serves diverse clientele including high schools, colleges, local theater companies, national tours, TV/film productions, corporate events, and masquerade galas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Production Costume Rentals Weekly costume rentals for theatrical productions, schools, colleges, community theaters, and professional theaters, with full costume plot services covering research, alterations, cleaning, and delivery.
• Individual Costume Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ costumes available for rent
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Chicago CostumecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022Broadway Costumes partnered with Chicago Costume to handle retail sales of theatrical makeup, wigs, accessories, and crafting supplies. Chicago Costume manages the shop retail operations while Broadway Costumes handles costume rentals. Items can ship together or separately from rental orders. Broadway Costumes became part of the Chicago Costume family of companies in May 2022 under ownership of Courtland Hickey.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Mascot Shop: Sells professional mascot costumes and custom character costumes; also part of the Chicago Costume family of Companies. Adjacent product line to Broadway Costumes' character and uniform rental categories.

Broad incumbents

• Men's Wearhouse: National formalwear rental and retail chain owned by Tailored Brands. While focused on tuxedos and suits rather than theatrical costumes, it competes for adjacent formalwear rental occasions like proms and galas.
• Spirit Halloween: Largest seasonal Halloween costume retailer in North America with thousands of pop-up stores annually. Competes with Broadway Costumes in the individual/Halloween costume segment via mass-market, lower-priced offerings.
• Moss Bros Group: UK-based formal wear and costume rental chain offering tuxedo, suit, and themed costume hire. Comparable business model (rental rather than ownership) targeting overlapping formalwear and event costume customer needs.

Direct peers

• Chicago Costume: Sister company under the same Courtland Hickey ownership as Broadway Costumes, operating from the same Chicago facility. Sells retail theatrical makeup, wigs, masks, and Halloween costumes that complement Broadway Costumes' rental business.
• TheatreWorld Backdrops & Costumes: Rental supplier of theatrical costumes, backdrops, and stage scenery to schools, churches, and community theaters. Direct competitor in the scholastic and community theater costume rental segment.
• TDF Costume Collection: NYC-based nonprofit theatrical costume rental collection serving Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Operates in the same theatrical costume rental category with deep institutional customer overlap.
• Costume World: Theatrical costume rental company serving Broadway, opera, and theatrical productions nationwide. Direct competitor offering similar show-specific costume collections and weekly rental model comparable to Broadway Costumes.
• The Costumer: Costume rental house based in Atlanta serving theatrical productions, dance troupes, and film/TV. Competes directly with Broadway Costumes in the professional theatrical rental market with comparable weekly rental and alteration services.

Others

• Ben Nye Makeup: Manufacturer of theatrical and stage makeup brands stocked by Broadway Costumes via the Chicago Costume partnership. Supplier of retail products rather than a direct competitor, but directly tied to the company's product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BroadwayCostumesInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broadway-costumes-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/broadwaycostumeschicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Broadway Costumes