First Floor Theater
Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company producing world premieres and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays, serving Chicago audiences through tiered ticket pricing, monthly memberships, and foundation-supported programming anchored at Raven Theatre.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What First Floor Theater does
First Floor Theater is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company founded in 2012 by eight University of Chicago alumni. The company produces world premieres and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays, with stated commitments to anti-racist producing practices and the development of BIPOC artists and early-career directors. It currently operates in Season 13 (2025-2026 season) and is in residence at Raven Theatre on Chicago's north side.
The company's core product is a multi-production season staged at Raven Theatre, supplemented by The Blueprint Commission, an ongoing new-play development program launched in 2020 that supports early-career playwrights from research through world-premiere production. Programming is built around original contemporary work rather than revivals of canon, distinguishing it from larger Chicago institutions and positioning it as a development engine for new theatrical voices.
The business model combines ticketing (approximately 37% of operating income), monthly memberships, individual donations, and foundation and government grants (including named support from the Hirway, Donnelly, Mellon, Heath, and Illinois Arts Council programs). Pricing is tiered, ranging from pay-what-you-can to premium reserved seating, and distribution channels include direct sales, the University of Chicago ArtsPass program, and the Explore More Illinois cultural tourism network.
First Floor Theater firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Floor Theater
- Legal name
- First Floor Theater
- Website
- https://www.firstfloortheater.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater company producing world premieres and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays, serving Chicago audiences through tiered ticket pricing, monthly memberships, and foundation-supported programming anchored at Raven Theatre.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Floor Theater industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theater / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)
Keywords
Where First Floor Theater is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Floor Theater business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Box office typically accounts for only 37% of operating income. Revenue from single tickets at various price tiers (Access $10, Standard $20-25, Supporter $30-35, Pay-It-Forward $35-40) and preview performances.
- Membership Program: Monthly membership plans beginning at $10/mo providing insider access, locked-in seats, first pick at performance dates, free ticket exchanges, and no service charges. Recurring revenue stream.
- Individual Donations: Individual donor contributions form significant portion of funding alongside foundation support. Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donations from supporters.
- Foundation Support: Grants and donations from foundations including The Richard D. Hirway Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Preview Performances |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Run Performances |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Membership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | University of Chicago ArtsPass |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Group Sales |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
First Floor Theater product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Floor Theater is a Chicago-based nonprofit theater company that produces world, national, and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays across multiple seasons each year, staging them in residence at Raven Theatre's Schwartz Stage. The company also develops new works through The Blueprint Commission, a commissioning and workshop program for playwrights, and supports its programming via a tiered ticket operation, monthly memberships, and institutional foundation grants.
Product overview
First Floor Theater is a Chicago-based nonprofit theater company (501(c)(3)) founded in 2012 that operates as a single unified offering centered on producing bold, daring theatrical productions. The company's core product portfolio consists of: (1) Theater Productions—world, national, and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays with innovative design across 13 seasons; (2) The Blueprint Commission—a new play development program providing workshops and resources for commissioned playwrights; (3) Monthly Membership Program—a recurring subscription offering perks like locked-in seats and free exchanges starting at $10/month; and (4) Ticket Sales with tiered pricing for single tickets and group sales. The company is in residence at Raven Theatre and has received multiple Jeff Award nominations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Blueprint Commission: First Floor Theater's new play development program that provides resources for commissioned writers and a team of theater artists to bring new, daring plays into being.
Products and services
- Theater Productions Live staged productions of world, national, and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays performed in residence at Raven Theatre's Schwartz Stage in Chicago, spanning 13 seasons from 2012 to the current Season 13.
- The Blueprint Commission A new play development and commissioning program that provides commissioned writers with resources and a collaborative team of theater artists over two dedicated workshops to bring new, daring plays into being.
- Monthly Membership Program Recurring subscription offering starting at $10/month that provides insider access, locked-in seats, first pick at performance dates, free ticket exchanges, and waiver of service fees for theater productions.
- Single Ticket Sales Tiered single-ticket purchasing for individual theater performances, including Access GA ($10), Standard GA ($20), Supporter GA ($30), and Pay-It-Forward GA ($40) tiers, plus preview and group sales options.
- Group Sales Group ticket sales for organizational and group buyers, available by contacting First Floor Theater directly via email or phone.
Quantifiable outcome
- Produced 13 seasons with multiple world premieres and Chicago premieres
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Floor Theater
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
First Floor Theater technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
First Floor Theater partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Explore More IllinoisminorExplore More Illinois is a cultural pass program allowing Illinois public library cardholders (RAILS and IHLS) access to museums, theaters, and attractions. FFT offers $5 off monthly memberships to library cardholders through this partnership, expanding audience reach.
- University of ChicagominorUniversity of Chicago graduates receive $12 tickets (promo code ARTSPASS) for FFT performances. Partnership provides discounted access to UChicago alumni community.
- Acacia Consulting GroupminorPR and media consulting firm (Morgan Harris & Tom Elliot) handling press inquiries for First Floor Theater.
- Raven TheatrecoreRaven Theatre serves as the venue partner for First Floor Theater. FFT is in residence at Raven Theatre, performing at The Schwartz Stage (6157 N. Clark St.). This is a long-term venue partnership enabling FFT's productions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Floor Theater competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TimeLine Theatre: Chicago-based mid-size nonprofit theater producing contemporary and historical works, often world premieres. Highly comparable in scale, mission, audience, and reliance on subscriptions, donations, and grants.
- A Red Orchid Theatre: Chicago-based ensemble-driven mid-size theater producing bold contemporary work. Shares FFT's risk-taking aesthetic, similar headcount range, and intimate-venue production model.
- Lookingglass Theatre Company: Chicago-based ensemble theater producing original and adapted works with strong design integration. Comparable in artistic ambition, ensemble structure, and Chicago mid-size theater scale.
- Victory Gardens Theater: Chicago theater focused on new work and diverse voices. Directly comparable mission alignment around producing premieres and serving underrepresented playwrights.
- The House Theatre of Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit producing original and devised works with a strong ensemble. Similar scale, subscription and donor revenue mix, and focus on bold contemporary storytelling.
- Teatro Vista: Chicago-based Latinx-focused theater producing new work and developing Latinx playwrights. Highly comparable mission emphasis on underrepresented voices, Jeff Award presence, and similar mid-size operational scale.
- Northlight Theatre: Chicago-area nonprofit theater producing contemporary plays and musicals. Comparable mid-size scale, subscription model, and donor-supported revenue structure.
Others
- Raven Theatre: FFT's venue partner and resident theater. Raven both hosts FFT productions and stages its own seasons, making it an enabling/ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago's flagship ensemble theater producing world premieres at much larger scale. Comparable mission around bold new work and ensemble-driven production; functions as a broader incumbent in the same category.
- Goodman Theatre: One of Chicago's largest nonprofit theaters, producing a broad repertory that includes new works. Operates in the same space but at significantly larger scale and capacity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Floor Theater social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Floor Theater financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Floor Theater leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
First Floor Theater funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Floor Theater 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 First Floor Theater
What does First Floor Theater do?
First Floor Theater is a Chicago-based nonprofit theater company that produces world, national, and Chicago premieres of contemporary plays across multiple seasons each year, staging them in residence at Raven Theatre's Schwartz Stage. The company also develops new works through The Blueprint Commission, a commissioning and workshop program for playwrights, and supports its programming via a tiered ticket operation, monthly memberships, and institutional foundation grants.
Is First Floor Theater a public or private company?
First Floor Theater is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was First Floor Theater founded?
First Floor Theater was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is First Floor Theater based?
First Floor Theater is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Floor Theater make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership Program, individual Donations and foundation Support.
Who are First Floor Theater's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TimeLine Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, The House Theatre of Chicago, Teatro Vista and Northlight Theatre. Raven Theatre is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre.
Does First Floor Theater have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Floor Theater.
What industry is First Floor Theater in?
First Floor Theater's product category is Live Theater / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 71111.