THE DEN THEATRE CHICAGO, LLC

What THE DEN THEATRE CHICAGO, LLC does

The Den Theatre Chicago, LLC is a privately held live entertainment venue founded in 2010 by Ryan Martin in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The company operates five distinct performance spaces (Heath Mainstage 302 seats, Bookspan Theatre 99 seats, Upstairs Mainstage 80 seats, The Crosby 65 seats, and Theatre 2A 54 seats) alongside three bars including Haven Lounge, presenting stand-up comedy, theatre productions, podcast recordings, and variety acts. It is recognized as one of the premier stand-up comedy venues in the country, hosting A-list national headliners such as John Mulaney, Maria Bamford, Tom Segura, and Alex Borstein, and was named Best Theater Venue by the Chicago Reader in 2019.

The business operates as a multi-revenue-stream venue: ticket sales across the five performance spaces, integrated bar and lounge beverage service, facility rentals to outside producers and resident theatre companies (Haven Theatre Company, About Face Theatre, The Artistic Home, First Floor Theater), and private event hosting. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company's website and on-site box office, supplemented by perform-driven promotion and a Constant Contact newsletter with presale access. Pricing is transactional, with assigned seating on the Heath Mainstage and general admission elsewhere, and a 2-item minimum on some shows. The venue is fully cashless, accepts tap-to-pay, and features MERV 8-13 air filtration across separate HVAC zones.

The company is co-owned by Ryan Martin (CEO and Founder) and Carol Cohen (Co-Owner, founder of Haven Theatre Company), with no disclosed external investors or parent company. Headcount is 11-50 employees across production, talent buying, technical direction, audience services, marketing, bar management, and box office functions. The venue is single-site, serving the Chicago market only, with no disclosed expansion plans beyond incremental programming of its existing footprint.

Name

THE DEN THEATRE CHICAGO, LLC

Legal name

The Den Theatre Chicago, LLC

Website

https://thedentheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Den Theatre is a Chicago-based live entertainment venue operating five performance spaces and three bars in Wicker Park, hosting stand-up comedy, theatre, podcasts, and private events for consumers, outside producers, and resident theatre companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF), Venue Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations (Ushers, Box Office, Accessibility) (MPAGALAK)

Keywords

• Live comedy performances
• Theatre venue rentals
• Performance space booking
• Bar and lounge
• Live entertainment venue

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to comedy shows, theatre performances, and special events across five performance spaces.
2. Bar & Lounge Sales: Craft cocktails, local craft brews, wines, top-shelf liquors, and snacks sold at The Den Bar & Lounge. All drinks and small snacks are allowed in performance spaces.
3. Venue Rentals: The venue rents out its five performance spaces (Heath Mainstage 302 seats, Theatre 2A 54 seats, Bookspan Theatre 99 seats, The Crosby/Theatre 2B 65 seats, Upstairs Mainstage 80 seats) and common areas including Haven Lounge for private events and productions.
4. Private Events: Hosting private gatherings and corporate events in interdisciplinary arts venue spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Den Theatre presents live stand-up comedy, theatre performances, and podcast recordings across five performance spaces (Heath Mainstage with 302 seats, Bookspan Theatre with 99 seats, Upstairs Mainstage with 80 seats, The Crosby with 65 seats, and Theatre 2A with 54 seats). It operates an integrated on-site bar and lounge serving craft cocktails, local brews, and wines, with drinks permitted inside performance spaces. The venue also rents its spaces to outside producers, resident theatre companies, and private event clients for productions and corporate gatherings.

Product overview

The Den Theatre is an interdisciplinary arts venue and live performance space in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. It operates as a platform offering multiple distinct performance spaces and services: five live theatre spaces (Heath Mainstage with 302 seats, Theatre 2A with 54 seats, Bookspan Theatre with 99 seats, The Crosby with 65 seats, and Upstairs Mainstage with 80 seats), complemented by The Den Bar & Lounge serving craft cocktails and beverages. The venue functions as both a presenter of comedy and theatre shows and as a rental facility for outside productions and private events. It also hosts a resident company program for Chicago storefront theatre companies. The company operates primarily as a live entertainment venue rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Den Bar & Lounge: The bar and lounge at The Den Theatre offering craft cocktails, local craft brews, wines, and top-shelf liquors. Located at the venue and open before, during, and after performances.
• Haven Lounge

Products and services

• Heath Mainstage A 302-seat ground-floor performance venue ideal for live stand-up comedy, music, and variety acts, with assigned seating and proximity to Haven Lounge.
• Theatre 2A A 54-seat intimate second-floor performance space ideal for stand-up comedy, improv, sketch, cabaret performances, and solo shows.
• Bookspan Theatre
• The Crosby (Theatre 2B)
• Upstairs Mainstage
• The Den Bar & Lounge A craft cocktail bar and lounge serving local craft brews, wines, top-shelf liquors, and classic cocktails. Drinks and snacks purchased here are permitted inside performance spaces. Operates as a cashless venue accepting all major credit cards and Tap-to-pay.
• Ticketed Comedy and Theatre Shows Live stand-up comedy performances, theatre productions, podcast recordings, and variety acts featuring national headliners and local favorites, sold as ticketed shows across the venue's five performance spaces.
• Venue Rentals and Private Events
• Resident Company Program A program hosting diverse Chicago theatre companies in residence with prioritized access to performance spaces for ongoing productions, including About Face Theatre, The Artistic Home, First Floor Theater, and Haven Theatre Company.

Quantifiable outcome

• Haven Theatre Company has produced 13 productions with over 18 Jeff Award nominations and 6 wins since 2013.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cafe RobeyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNeighborhood restaurant located at North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenues in Wicker Park. Ticket holders can present emailed confirmation for a discount on meals.
• The Robey ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt Deco hotel offering discounts to those booking through The Den's link or using promo code DENTHEATRE. Provides accommodation for out-of-town performers and patrons.
• About Face TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident company advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. Nationally recognized for examining issues critical to LGBTQ+ people and developing remarkable world premiere plays.
• The Artistic HomecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner20-year storefront theatre veteran and resident company. Collaboration of actor, director, and playwright with imaginative design elements for up-close storytelling experience.
• First Floor TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident company that stages stories of individuals facing radical change. Committed to producing world premieres, amplifying underheard voices, and offering accessible ticket pricing.
• Haven Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Co-Owner Carol Cohen. Has produced 13 productions with over 18 Jeff Award Nominations and 6 wins since 2013. Carol served as Executive Director from 2012-2019.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Large Chicago theatrical producing organization with multiple performance spaces and a national reputation for producing new plays. Comparable as a multi-space Chicago theatre operator, though focused on higher-production dramatic work rather than stand-up comedy.
• Park West: Established Chicago concert and comedy venue hosting national touring acts. Comparable as a Chicago ticketed live-entertainment venue competing for touring comedians and similar audience demographics.
• Second City: Iconic Chicago improv and sketch comedy institution with multiple theatre spaces, bar service, and a training center. Comparable as a multi-space Chicago live-comedy operator and as a competitor for both audiences and comedy talent.

Emerging players

• The Hideout: Small Chicago live music and performance venue with bar service. Comparable as a single-location Chicago bar-venue that hosts ticketed live entertainment, though focused on music programming rather than comedy.

Direct peers

• Chopin Theatre: Chicago storefront theatre offering multiple performance spaces, rentals to outside producers, and community programming. Comparable as a multi-space Chicago storefront venue that both produces and rents out spaces to resident companies.
• The Laugh Factory: National comedy club chain with a Chicago location featuring ticketed headliner shows and bar service. Comparable in business model — ticketed comedy plus F&B — and directly competes for A-list comedian bookings.
• iO Theater: Chicago improv and comedy theatre with ticketed shows and on-site bar. Comparable as a ticketed live-comedy venue with bar service in Chicago competing for overlapping improv and comedy audiences.
• Zanies Comedy Night Club: Established Chicago comedy club operating multiple rooms with ticketed stand-up shows and full bar service. Directly comparable as a ticketed comedy venue competing for the same headliners and audiences in the same metro.
• The Annoyance Theatre & Bar: Chicago-based improv, sketch, and comedy venue with integrated bar and live programming. Comparable as a smaller-format Chicago comedy and theatre venue with attached F&B and similar neighborhood positioning.

Regional players

• Thalia Hall: Chicago live entertainment hall hosting comedy, music, and events with integrated bar and restaurant. Comparable as a multi-purpose Chicago performance venue with F&B, though serving a different neighborhood and primarily music-focused programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheDenTheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/thedentheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedentheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-den-theatre-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 DEN THEATRE CHICAGO, LLC