THE FACTORY THEATER

What THE FACTORY THEATER does

The Factory Theater is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization that exclusively produces original theatrical works by Chicago playwrights. Operating from a 70-seat 3/4 thrust venue at 1623 W Howard Street in Rogers Park, the company runs a season of world-premiere productions (typically three per year) supplemented by shorter-form Factory Overtime experimental works. Per company history, the organization was founded in 2004 and has produced more than 128 original shows, with the company entering its 32nd season in 2026. The physical infrastructure includes a 15'x22' all-wood stage, full lighting grid, sound system, available projector, dressing rooms, two backstage bathrooms, and a spacious lobby — equipment that also supports external rental use.

The company's core product is original theatrical production, complemented by five ancillary lines: theater space rental (one-night shows through full six-week runs, rehearsals, and events), Factory Overtime short-form programming, audition and casting services, branded merchandise, and donations/fundraising campaigns (including a dedicated Season 32 fundraiser). Ticketing is processed through the ThunderTix platform, with main-stage tickets priced at $25–$35 and Factory Overtime at $10–$15. Revenue is diversified across ticket sales, rental fees, donations, merchandise, and institutional grants from federal (National Endowment for the Arts), state (Illinois Arts Council), municipal (DCASE), and private foundation sources (Howard Arts Council, Guvernment Dreams Foundation, The Saints). The company's distribution channels include direct online ticketing via ThunderTix, an e-commerce merchandise storefront, and a venue rental channel managed by Lizzy Mosher.

The Factory Theater serves three principal customer segments: the Chicago theatergoing public (individuals purchasing tickets for original productions), volunteer board members and donors who contribute an annual $250 donation plus a $2,500 annual fundraising commitment, and external theater producers who rent the venue for their own productions and events. Leadership is provided by Artistic Director Michael Jones, Chief Operations Officer Chase Wheaton-Werle, and Managing Director Phil Claudnic, with Brittney Brown overseeing casting. The organization is supported by a core team of 15 staff and operates as an ensemble-driven company with a dedicated IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) committee.

Name

THE FACTORY THEATER

Legal name

The Factory Theater

Website

https://thefactorytheater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Factory Theater is a Chicago-based non-profit producing exclusively original theatrical works by local playwrights in a 70-seat Rogers Park venue. Revenue comes from ticket sales, space rentals, donations, and merchandise, supplemented by arts grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Original theatrical productions
• Storefront theater
• Space rental services
• Live theater performances
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for productions. Tickets sold through ThunderTix platform (thefactorytheater1.thundertix.com) for main stage shows at $25-$35 and Factory Overtime productions at $10-$15.
2. Space Rental: The theater rents its 70-seat space to outside producers for one-night shows, one-week shows, full six-week runs, rehearsals, and events. Revenue from rental fees managed by Rental Manager Lizzy Mosher.
3. Donations: The theater accepts monetary donations via a ThunderTix campaign page, as well as donations of physical goods (equipment, materials). Board members contribute annual donations of $250 and are expected to fundraise $2,500 per year on behalf of the theater.
4. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise through the theater's merchandise page (thefactorytheater.com/merchandise/).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Factory Theater produces and presents exclusively original theatrical works by Chicago playwrights in its 70-seat 3/4 thrust venue in Rogers Park, Chicago. Each season includes three world premiere main stage productions plus Factory Overtime short-form shows, supplemented by theater space rentals to external producers and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Factory Theater is Chicago's longest surviving non-profit producer of exclusively original theatrical works, offering a portfolio of services centered around original play development and production. The core offering is a season of 3 world premiere productions annually from Chicago playwrights, performed in their 70-seat 3/4 thrust theater space. Supporting services include theater space rental for external productions, Factory Overtime (short-form special events), audition and casting services, merchandise, board membership opportunities, and donation/fundraising programs. The company operates as an ensemble-based nonprofit, with productions developed and assembled by their shameless ensemble member collective.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Stage Theatrical Productions World premiere original theatrical works written by Chicago playwrights, performed in the 70-seat 3/4 thrust venue, including comedy, drama, horror, musical, and documentary theater. Ticketed at $25-$35 per seat.
• Theater Space Rental Rental of the 70-seat 3/4 thrust theater with full lighting grid, full sound system, projector, dressing room, lobby, and amenities. Available for one-night shows, one-week shows, full six-week runs, rehearsals, readings, events, and parties.
• Factory Overtime Short-Form Productions Short-form theatrical productions and special events presented for limited runs (typically January-February season, ~1 hour runtime), including music performances, comedy shows, and experimental works. Ticketed at $10-$15 per seat.
• Branded Merchandise Factory Theater branded merchandise available for purchase through the theater's website merchandise page.

Quantifiable outcome

• 128+ productions produced since 2004
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unheard Of CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-production partnership on 'MUFFED' — The Factory Theater and Unheard Of Company co-produced this original devised piece. The two companies share production resources, creative teams, and co-present the show at The Factory's venue. Unheard Of Company, co-founded by director Kayla Menz, specializes in bringing historically marginalized voices to the stage through workshop and production of new work.
• The UnderstudyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Kayla Menz, who directed 'MUFFED' at The Factory, is co-founder of Unheard Of Company which works with The Understudy venue. The original staged reading of 'The Sporting Life' was developed at The Understudy before its Factory production.
• Illinois Arts CouncilcoreOthersIllinois Arts Council logo appears in the We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends section on the website footer, indicating they are a supporting funder of The Factory Theater's operations.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)coreOthersNEA logo appears in the We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends section, indicating federal arts funding support for The Factory Theater.
• DCASE (Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events)coreOthersDCASE logo appears in the funding acknowledgments on the website footer, indicating city-level arts funding support. Factory Theater has been a recipient of DCASE grants.
• Howard Arts CouncilminorOthersHoward Arts Council logo appears in the footer acknowledgment section, indicating a local arts funding partner supporting The Factory Theater.
• Guvernment Dreams FoundationminorOthersGuvernment Dreams Foundation logo appears in the We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends section on the website footer.
• The SaintsminorOthersThe Saints logo appears in the funding acknowledgment section on the website footer.
• R Public HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason 32 fundraiser 'Red, White, and GREEN: A Factory Fundraiser for Season 32' is hosted at R Public House (1508 W Jarvis Ave), indicating a venue partnership for special events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Raven Theatre: Chicago storefront theater producing contemporary and original works with an ensemble. Comparable as a small, neighborhood-anchored Chicago non-profit producing new theatrical work.
• Steep Theatre Company: Chicago storefront theater known for producing bold contemporary and original international works in an intimate space. Comparable in venue size, neighborhood location, and commitment to adventurous new theatrical programming.
• A Red Orchid Theatre: Small Chicago storefront theater with a long-running ensemble producing bold, original and contemporary works. Highly comparable in scale, neighborhood-based operating model, and commitment to new theatrical voices.
• Lookingglass Theatre Company: Chicago-based ensemble theater company that develops and produces original works, including world-premiere adaptations. Operates a similar non-profit, ensemble-driven model focused on new theatrical experiences for Chicago audiences.
• About Face Theatre: Chicago theater focused on LGBTQ+ voices and original work. Comparable as a smaller Chicago non-profit producing world-premiere plays and community-engaged programming in an intimate setting.
• TimeLine Theatre Company: Chicago non-profit theater producing plays inspired by history, including many world premieres. Comparable as a mission-driven Chicago ensemble producing new work with strong community and donor engagement.
• The House Theatre of Chicago: Chicago non-profit that produces original and devised theatrical works, often with a strong ensemble. Comparable as a smaller Chicago company focused on creating new theatrical experiences for Chicago audiences.
• The Hypocrites: Chicago non-profit theater producing reinvented classics and original work with an intimate, ensemble-driven approach. Comparable as a small Chicago company staging original and adapted productions in intimate venues.
• American Blues Theater: Chicago's oldest continuous Equity-affiliated theater, producing original and contemporary American works. Comparable as a Chicago non-profit producing new plays and developing original work with ensemble talent.

Broad incumbents

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago's flagship ensemble theater, much larger and more established, producing original and contemporary works with an in-house company of actors. Comparable as a Chicago non-profit ensemble producing new work, but at significantly greater scale and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/factorytheater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpxmkuG1kcZdhq6VcXbAYJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/factorytheater
• Instagraminstagram.com/factorytheater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-factory-theater-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 THE FACTORY THEATER