The Cabaret
The Cabaret is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the 190-seat Christel DeHaan Theatre in Indianapolis, presenting 40+ Broadway-caliber cabaret performances annually to 9,000+ patrons, funded by ticket sales, sponsorships, foundation grants, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Cabaret does
The Cabaret is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing-arts organization founded in 2008 (originally as American Cabaret Theatre) and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It operates the 190-seat Christel DeHaan Theatre within the historic Metzger Building at 924 N Pennsylvania St, presenting 40+ cabaret performances annually to 9,000+ patrons in an intimate format engineered so that no seat is more than 20 feet from the stage. Programming features Broadway-caliber artists and is augmented by educational partnerships with institutions such as Ball State and the Asante Art Institute, as well as artist-development initiatives including the Incubator and Tom Murphy Next Generation series.
The organization's core "product" is the live cabaret experience — a fixed-seat, small-capacity theatrical format dependent on touring Broadway talent, artistic-directorship curation, and venue quality. Supporting infrastructure includes a digital archive of 700+ videos on YouTube drawing 1M+ annual views, which extends reach beyond the physical venue and functions as a low-cost distribution and brand channel. Operations are supported by a small team of approximately 10–15 staff and a 20+ member board.
The business model is a hybrid ticket-plus-contributed-income nonprofit structure. Tickets cover approximately 31% of operating expenses, with the remaining ~69% funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships structured in tiers from $1.5K to $12K+, foundation grants (anchored by a $2.75M Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Legacy Grant), government funding (now contracting — see headwinds below), and ancillary food-and-beverage plus venue rental revenue. Go-to-market is event-driven, sales-led at the ticket level, and community-led across donor, sponsor, and young-professional segments (the latter via the SophistiTIX program). Near-term headwinds include the May 31, 2025 termination of a $20K NEA grant and a projected ~$80K annual government funding loss by 2026 representing roughly 10% of contributed income; the organization is responding with Lilly Endowment-supported development of a 2026–2030 strategic plan.
The Cabaret firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cabaret
- Legal name
- The Cabaret
- Website
- https://thecabaret.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Cabaret is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the 190-seat Christel DeHaan Theatre in Indianapolis, presenting 40+ Broadway-caliber cabaret performances annually to 9,000+ patrons, funded by ticket sales, sponsorships, foundation grants, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Cabaret industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Performing Arts Venue
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cabarets & Variety Nightlife (MPAGAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)
Keywords
Where The Cabaret is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Cabaret business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from individual show tickets and season subscriptions covering approximately 31-40% of annual expenses
- Donations and Annual Fund: Charitable contributions from individual donors at various levels, critical to covering remaining operational costs not covered by ticket sales
- Show Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships starting at $1,500 for Alley Sessions and $3,000 for mainstage performances, with Presenting Sponsors at $12,000
- Venue Rentals: Private event rentals for weddings, fundraisers, corporate meetings, and performances. Requires $5k minimum catering order through The Jazz Kitchen
- Food and Beverage: Full dinner service, craft cocktails, curated wine provided by The Jazz Kitchen at performances and events
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Premium 2-Top seating |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Premium seating |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Banquette seating |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | High Cocktail seating |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Main Floor seating |
| Freemium | Annual | SophistiTIX Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student Tickets |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Show Sponsorships |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Venue Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Food and Beverage |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Cabaret product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cabaret is a nonprofit live performance venue operating the 190-seat Christel DeHaan Theatre in Indianapolis, presenting world-class cabaret, Broadway, jazz, and international performances by Tony and Grammy Award-winning artists. It supplements performances with The Alley Sessions free outdoor summer concert series, education and artist development programs (masterclasses, Ball State University cabaret course, Incubator Series), private venue rentals, SophistiTIX membership for young professionals, gift certificates, and food and beverage service through exclusive caterer The Jazz Kitchen.
Product overview
The Cabaret operates as a nonprofit live performance venue offering a portfolio of interconnected entertainment and hospitality products. Its core offerings include live cabaret, Broadway, and jazz performances in an intimate 190-seat theater, complemented by The Alley Sessions outdoor concert series. Additional products include venue rentals for private events, education and artist development programs with masterclasses and the Incubator Series for emerging artists, SophistiTIX membership for young professionals, gift certificates, food and beverage service by The Jazz Kitchen, and show sponsorship opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SophistiTIX: Young professionals program for guests 35 and under offering 25% discount on tickets and VIP perks.
- The Alley Sessions
- Christel DeHaan International Series
- Glick Philanthropies Broadway at The Cabaret Series
- Jazz at The Cabaret Series
- Tom Murphy Next Generation Series
- Incubator Series
Products and services
- Live Performances and Shows World-class cabaret, Broadway, and jazz performances featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed artists in an intimate 190-seat venue setting.
- The Alley Sessions Free outdoor summer concert series at The Alley at Library Square featuring local performing and visual artists; the 2024 series featured 65 artists and served 1,310 in-person attendees plus 80,000 WICR 88.7 FM broadcast listeners.
- Venue Rentals Private event rental of the Christel DeHaan Theater for weddings, fundraisers, corporate events, performances, and celebrations, accommodating up to 190 seated guests.
- Education and Artist Development Programs Masterclasses, student showcases, professional development workshops, and the Incubator Series that provides emerging artists with training and performance opportunities on The Cabaret's stage.
- SophistiTIX Membership Free membership for patrons 35 and under providing 25% off up to two tickets per performance, access to season pre-sales, and exclusive member events.
- Gift Certificates Gift certificates redeemable for tickets to any regular performance at The Cabaret, available for purchase online.
- Food and Beverage Service Full dinner service, craft cocktails, and curated wine provided by The Jazz Kitchen at performances, with no food or beverage minimums required.
- Show Sponsorships Corporate sponsorship packages for individual performances starting at $1,500 for The Alley Sessions and $3,000 for mainstage performances, with Presenting Sponsors at $12,000. Includes premium tickets, recognition, and photo opportunities with artists.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9,000+ patrons served annually across 40+ performances
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Cabaret
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Cabaret technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Cabaret partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- The Jazz KitchencoreExclusive catering partner providing full dinner service, craft cocktails, and bar operations. Handles all food and beverage for performances and venue rentals. $5k minimum catering order required for rentals.
- Bottleworks HotelcoreOfficial Hotel of The Cabaret. Michelin Key destination offering special rates for Cabaret patrons and visiting performers. Located steps from the venue in the Bottleworks District.
- SabellocoreSponsor of SophistiTIX program making young professional discounts possible. Sabello strives to make theatre accessible to all.
- Ball State University Department of Theatre and DancecoreLongstanding partnership providing experiential learning. Developed vocal and cabaret course in 2013 now with two showcases annually. Students present at NYC's Joe's Pub.
- Asante Art InstitutesecondaryPartnership exposing Indianapolis youth to professional theatre and cabaret performers through masterclasses with Broadway and jazz stars.
- WICR 88.7 FMsecondaryRadio partner broadcasting The Alley Sessions to 80,000+ listeners, extending reach of free summer concert series.
- Indy Jazz FestsecondaryPartnership for jazz programming, co-presenting top-tier jazz divas as part of the Jazz at The Cabaret Series.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Cabaret competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Hilbert Circle Theatre / Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Indianapolis-based performing arts presenting organization with a comparable donor and corporate sponsor base. Regional competitor for arts philanthropy in Indianapolis.
- Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre: Indianapolis-based nonprofit community theater. Comparable as a regional Indianapolis performing arts organization competing for the same donor and audience base.
- Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis: Indianapolis-based nonprofit performing arts venue. Comparable as a regional arts organization operating in Indianapolis with similar donor and sponsorship competition.
Direct peers
- Feinstein's/54 Below: Premier New York cabaret venue showcasing Broadway and jazz stars in an intimate setting. Directly comparable as a nonprofit cabaret-focused performance venue with dinner service and Broadway-caliber talent.
- The Green Room 42: Intimate cabaret venue in NYC's Theater District featuring Broadway and cabaret performers. Comparable as a small-format cabaret venue with dinner service and Broadway talent focus.
- Café Carlyle: Iconic New York cabaret venue inside The Carlyle hotel, featuring intimate performances with major Broadway and jazz stars. Directly comparable as a small-format cabaret venue with dinner service and household-name talent.
- Davenport's: Chicago-based piano bar and cabaret venue offering intimate performances with food and cocktail service. Comparable as a Midwest cabaret venue with dinner service and Broadway-style programming.
- Birdland Jazz Club: Legendary New York jazz performance venue presenting world-class jazz artists. Comparable as an intimate jazz presenting venue with full dining service and a national reputation for jazz programming.
Others
- CNO (Cabaret Nights Online) / Macomb Center: Midwest-based arts presenter and venue operators. Comparable as a regional live entertainment venue network presenting touring cabaret and music acts in adjacent markets.
Broad incumbents
- Jazz at Lincoln Center: Major national jazz presenting organization with multiple venues including Rose Theater. Comparable as a larger-scale jazz programming and education organization but with national rather than regional scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Cabaret social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cabaret financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cabaret leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles25 records
The Cabaret funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cabaret 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 The Cabaret
What does The Cabaret do?
The Cabaret is a nonprofit live performance venue operating the 190-seat Christel DeHaan Theatre in Indianapolis, presenting world-class cabaret, Broadway, jazz, and international performances by Tony and Grammy Award-winning artists. It supplements performances with The Alley Sessions free outdoor summer concert series, education and artist development programs (masterclasses, Ball State University cabaret course, Incubator Series), private venue rentals, SophistiTIX membership for young professionals, gift certificates, and food and beverage service through exclusive caterer The Jazz Kitchen.
Is The Cabaret a public or private company?
The Cabaret is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Cabaret founded?
The Cabaret was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Cabaret based?
The Cabaret is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Cabaret make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Annual Fund, show Sponsorships, venue Rentals and food and Beverage.
Who are The Cabaret's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Hilbert Circle Theatre / Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre and Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis. Direct peers are Feinstein's/54 Below, The Green Room 42, Café Carlyle, Davenport's and Birdland Jazz Club. CNO (Cabaret Nights Online) / Macomb Center is listed as an others. Jazz at Lincoln Center is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Cabaret have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Cabaret.
What industry is The Cabaret in?
The Cabaret's product category is Live Performing Arts Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAIAI, Cabarets & Variety Nightlife, with a secondary code of MPAGALAF, Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages). Its NAICS code is 71111 and its SIC code is 7900.