Weill Center for the Performing Arts

What Weill Center for the Performing Arts does

The Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 1,150-seat historic live event venue at 826 North 8th Street in downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The building was constructed in 1928 in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style with atmospheric theater design, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, and restored to its original 1928 appearance in a $6 million renovation completed in 2001. The Weill Center Foundation, Inc. (EIN 39-1862825), established in 1996 to preserve and operate the venue, governs the property through a Board of Directors and operates with a staff of approximately 15 supplemented by 100+ volunteers, receiving no public funding and relying instead on earned income and donations.

The venue's core product is live performance programming — concerts, comedy, theater, dance, ballet, movies, and variety acts — sourced both from national touring productions (Book of Mormon, Mrs. Doubtfire, Demetri Martin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, United European Ballet's Cinderella, Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol) and from local resident organizations (Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Sheboygan Symphony Chorus, Pankratz Arts Exchange). The venue is a 1,150-seat theater with tiered seating, an atmospheric auditorium, and original 1928 light fixtures, chandeliers, and torches. Distribution channels include an in-person Box Office (Tuesday–Friday 12–4pm), phone sales, online ticketing via TicketSearch, and season subscriptions.

The business model combines six revenue streams: (1) ticketed performance sales with tiered pricing ranging roughly $20–$106+fees; (2) facility rentals for private events including weddings, corporate events, board retreats, and cocktail hours; (3) an annual membership program offering complimentary tickets and VIP access; (4) donations and corporate sponsorships from individuals, family foundations, and regional companies (US Bank Foundation, Kohler, Sargento, Vollrath, UMB Bank); (5) on-site concessions and merchandise including gift certificates; and (6) specialty tour revenue from Historic Happy Hour Tours and Specters of the Spotlight Ghost Tours. The venue is currently executing a $13 million Transformation capital campaign ($8M raised as of campaign reporting) to add lobby expansion, a rooftop lounge, outdoor patio, mezzanine elevator, and ADA family restrooms, with Phase I completion anticipated in early 2027.

Name

Weill Center for the Performing Arts

Legal name

Weill Center Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://weillcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 1,150-seat historic 1928 theater in downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin, presenting live performances, touring national productions, and private event rentals funded by earned income and community donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Historic theater venue
• Event ticket sales
• Venue rental services
• Arts education programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheboygan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for live performances including touring national acts, local performing arts groups, movies, comedy shows, and specialty events. Tickets sold via online platform (TicketSearch), Box Office, and phone.
2. Facility Rentals: The venue is rented for private events including concerts, board retreats, birthday parties, cocktail hours, and weddings. Revenue from rental fees and associated services.
3. Membership Programs: Annual membership programs offering complimentary tickets, VIP access, and other benefits to supporters.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: The theater receives no public funding and relies on donations from corporations, foundations, families, individuals, plus corporate sponsorship revenue. Capital campaign underway targeting $13 million for expansion.
5. Concessions and Merchandise: Revenue from bar/concessions sales during events and merchandise sales including gift certificates.
6. Tours and Special Events: Revenue from guided tours including Historic Happy Hour Tours and Specters of the Spotlight Ghost Tours, as well as special tasting events like Wine & Swine and Bourbon & Bites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Weill Center for the Performing Arts is a historic 1,150-seat live event venue in Downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin, originally built in 1928 and restored in 2001. It presents its own series of live performances including touring national music, comedy, theater productions, dance, variety acts, and movies, while also offering facility rentals for private events, guided historic and ghost tours, an annual membership program, and on-site food and beverage service.

Product overview

The Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts is a 1,150-seat historic live event venue in downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin, built in 1928 and restored in 2001. The venue operates as a multi-purpose performing arts center presenting its own series of live performances—including music, comedy, theater productions, variety acts, and movies—featuring national touring acts. Beyond ticketed events, the venue offers facility rentals for private functions (concerts, corporate events, weddings) and specialty programming including Historic Happy Hour Tours and Specters of the Spotlight Ghost Tours. Supplementary offerings include an annual Membership Program with VIP benefits, gift certificates, marquee message rentals, and on-site food and beverage service. A $13 million capital campaign (Transformation project) is underway to expand lobby space, add a rooftop lounge, and construct an outdoor patio venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Performance Events The core offering of the 1,150-seat historic theater, hosting concerts, comedy shows, theater productions, variety acts, and movies featuring national touring acts for general audiences.
• Venue Rentals The theater and its spaces are available to rent for private events including concerts, board retreats, birthday parties, cocktail hours, weddings, and corporate events.
• Historic Happy Hour Tours Guided 90-minute tours of the historic landmark theater built in 1928, taking guests through the lobby, auditorium, balcony, and backstage areas with theatrical history narratives.
• Specters of the Spotlight Ghost Tours Haunted theater tours lasting 90 minutes featuring history and mystery narratives, backstage access, balcony exploration, and ghost light stage experiences.
• Membership Program Annual membership offering complimentary tickets to select shows, VIP pre-show receptions, behind-the-scenes tours, and priority access to new productions.
• Gift Certificates Digital or physical gift certificates available for purchase to be used toward tickets and venue services.
• Marquee Messages Personalized messages displayed on the theater's outdoor marquee for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations.

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Rickman Architecture + DesigncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Project architect for the $13 million capital transformation campaign. Specializes in live event spaces. Located in Atlanta, Georgia. Responsible for transformation design including lobby expansion, rooftop lounge, and outdoor patio.
• Quasius ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Construction manager for the capital transformation project. Sheboygan-based construction company. Managing demolition and phased construction of expansion elements.
• Pankratz Arts Exchange, Inc. (PAE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit performing arts organization founded in 2011; celebrating 15th year as a performing arts organization. Produces music revues and musical theatre; provides summer multi-arts youth camps. LEGENDS! touring production debut at Weill Center in 2026.
• Sheboygan Symphony OrchestramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal symphony orchestra uses the Weill Center as its primary performance venue for concert series including Epic, Messiah, Passion, Colors, and Resurrection programs.
• TicketSearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial ticketing platform for the Weill Center. Handles all online ticket sales, subscriptions, and donations through wc830wc.na.ticketsearch.com.
• Classical Arts EntertainmentsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresenting partner bringing touring ballet productions including Cinderella by the United European Ballet Company to the Weill Center stage.
• Right Angle EntertainmentsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational tour presenter of Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at the Weill Center.
• Plymouth Advancement AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization presenting Swift Nation Taylor Swift tribute show as a benefit for Mental Health and Addiction awareness.
• Sheboygan Symphony ChorussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal choral organization performing at the Weill Center including Passion and other choral works.
• Sheboygan County Historical Society / National RegistersupportingOthersThe theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (December 22, 1999), the State of Wisconsin Register of Historic Places, and recognized by the City of Sheboygan Historic Preservation Commission.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Overture Center for the Arts: Madison, WI non-profit performing arts center with multiple venues totaling ~2,200 seats hosting national touring productions, local arts groups, and community programming. Directly comparable as a Wisconsin non-profit PAC of similar scale and programming mix.
• Pabst Theater: 1895 historic theater in Milwaukee operated as a non-profit presenting concerts, comedy, and touring acts. Comparable as a Wisconsin-based historic single-screen venue with national touring bookings and a non-profit operating model.
• Marcus Performing Arts Center: Milwaukee-based performing arts center presenting national touring Broadway, concerts, and family programming. Operated by a non-profit affiliate of the Marcus Corporation (historically connected to the Weill Center's former owner), making it a directly comparable regional PAC in the same Wisconsin market.
• Fox Cities Performing Arts Center: 1,500+ seat performing arts center in Appleton, WI serving the Fox Cities region with touring Broadway, concerts, and comedy. Directly comparable as a mid-sized Wisconsin regional PAC hosting national tours with a similar non-profit operating model and community-supported funding base.
• The Grand Opera House: Historic 1920s opera house in Oshkosh, WI restored as a non-profit performing arts venue. Directly comparable as a historic single-venue regional theater operating with community sponsorship and presenting touring acts.
• Riverside Theater: 2,500-seat historic theater in Milwaukee presenting concerts, comedy, and touring Broadway. Comparable as a Wisconsin historic PAC presenting similar genres of touring national content.
• Paramount Theatre (Cedar Rapids): Restored 1928 historic theater in Cedar Rapids, IA operating as a non-profit PAC presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and comedy. Comparable as a Midwestern historic single-venue PAC of similar capacity (~1,800 seats) with a similar restoration-to-non-profit trajectory.

Broad incumbents

• Live Nation Midwest/Theatrical Division: Large national live entertainment promoter and venue operator. The Weill Center competes with Live Nation-affiliated venues and promoters for the same touring content routing decisions, even though Live Nation operates at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Tivoli Theatre: Historic 1921 theater in Chattanooga, TN restored and operated as an entertainment/event venue. Comparable as a historic single-venue regional theater, though serving a different Southeast market.
• The Palace Theatre (Columbus, OH): Historic 1928 restored theater in Columbus, OH presenting concerts, comedy, and live events as a venue operator. Comparable historic single-venue PAC though serving a larger metro and operating on a for-profit basis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/reviews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stefanie-h-weill-center-for-the-performing-arts

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 Weill Center for the Performing Arts