The District Theatre
The District Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit live performance venue in Indianapolis operating two indoor stages, a visual arts gallery, and an outdoor stage, serving local audiences, resident theatre companies, and event organizers through ticket sales, rentals, donations, and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The District Theatre does
The District Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit live performance venue headquartered at 627 Massachusetts Avenue in the Mass Ave Cultural District of Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization operates three performance spaces: the 120-seat Christel DeHaan Main Stage, the 60-seat Cabaret Space, and the 80-seat OutBack Theatre (an outdoor stage launched in May 2021 to enable COVID-safe programming). It also runs a rotating visual arts gallery exhibiting work by local and regional Indianapolis artists. Established in 2017 as a supporting organization of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) and opened in July 2018, the theatre inherited the 30-year cultural legacy of the former Theatre on the Square (TOTS) and is mission-driven toward preserving diverse, status quo-challenging programming, with a stated strategic focus on incubating new professional resident equity theatre companies beginning with a Black resident professional equity company.
The venue generates revenue through four primary streams: direct ticket sales to patrons via the box office, one-time venue rentals to external performing groups and event organizers, tax-deductible community donations, and grant funding from government and foundation sources (including Lilly Endowment Inc., the federal Shuttered Venue program, CreatINg Spaces, and the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation). Ticket pricing is not publicly disclosed. Day-to-day operations are sustained in significant part by volunteer engagement spanning ushers, technical support, PR, and grant writing, with leadership currently provided by theatre manager Pauline Moffat, formerly President and CEO of IndyFringe Festival, which previously ran operations under contract from 2018 to 2021.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally minimal and venue-centric: physical stage infrastructure (e.g., a Main Stage approximately 20' deep by 48' wide with truck-access loading), ADA-compliant accessibility features across both indoor venues, plus standard digital channels—Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, a Constant Contact email newsletter, and a WordPress-based website. The theatre is a regional, single-market operation serving Indianapolis-area audiences, resident performing companies, local visual artists, and corporate event clients. There is no indication of geographic expansion, recurring SaaS-style contracts, or proprietary software products; the offering is fundamentally a physical cultural venue experience.
The District Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The District Theatre
- Legal name
- Indy District Theatre
- Website
- https://indydistricttheatre.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The District Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit live performance venue in Indianapolis operating two indoor stages, a visual arts gallery, and an outdoor stage, serving local audiences, resident theatre companies, and event organizers through ticket sales, rentals, donations, and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The District Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Performance Venue
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)
Keywords
Where The District Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The District Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales to patrons for theatrical performances, concerts, and dance events across three performance spaces.
- Venue Rental: Renting the theatre's two stages to external performing groups for theatrical performances, music concerts, award ceremonies, seminars/conferences, and dance performances.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from community supporters to support performers, artists, productions, programs, and patrons.
- Government and Foundation Grants: Funding received from organizations including Lilly Endowment Inc (Indy Arts and Culture Restart & Resilience Fund), Shuttered Venue federal grant funds, CreatINg Spaces, and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The District Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The District Theatre is a nonprofit live performance venue operating two indoor stages (120-seat Christel DeHaan Main Stage and 60-seat Cabaret Space), an 80-seat outdoor stage (OutBack Theatre), and a rotating visual arts gallery. It produces and hosts theatrical performances, concerts, dance shows, and art exhibitions, and rents its spaces to external performing groups, event organizers, and corporate clients while serving as an incubator for new professional resident equity theatre companies.
Product overview
The District Theatre is a live performance venue offering two indoor stages (Christel DeHaan Main Stage with 120-seat capacity and Cabaret Space with 60-seat capacity), a rotating visual arts gallery, and an outdoor stage (OutBack Theatre). The venue serves as a cultural hub for theatrical performances, music concerts, dance performances, seminars, and art exhibitions, with a mission to preserve and amplify diverse artistic voices in Indianapolis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Christel DeHaan Main Stage
Quantifiable outcome
- Two stages and visual arts gallery operational
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The District Theatre
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The District Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The District Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- IndyFringe FestivalcoreIn 2018, The District Theatre contracted IndyFringe Festival to run day-to-day operations for three years while the Board worked on creating a strategic plan. In 2021, The District Theatre resumed management due to COVID-19 financial implications. Pauline Moffat, former President and CEO of IndyFringe, continues as theatre manager.
- Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF)coreCICF, in partnership with local donors and businesses, opened The District Theatre in July 2018. CICF continues to support the preservation of the facilities and cultural heritage of the Massachusetts Avenue venue.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The District Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IndyFringe: Indianapolis fringe theatre organization that previously managed District Theatre's day-to-day operations from 2018–2021. Direct peer as a local presenting/performing arts organization focused on diverse, fringe programming in Indianapolis venues.
- Indianapolis Repertory Theatre: Indianapolis-based professional regional repertory theatre producing a season of plays and musicals. Directly comparable as a peer professional/performing-arts venue in the same city, with similar mission to present theatrical programming to local audiences.
- Footlite Musicals: Indianapolis-based community musical theatre producing staged productions in a small venue. Comparable as a nonprofit Indianapolis theatre with limited stage capacity relying on community support and ticketed performances for primary revenue.
- Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre: Indianapolis-based nonprofit performing arts venue with multiple stages producing theatrical programming for the local community. Closest functional peer — same city, similar venue size, comparable nonprofit operating model, and overlapping audience base on the Indianapolis arts scene.
- Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre: Indianapolis-area dinner theatre operating a single venue with theatrical productions paired with food service. Directly comparable as a regional theater venue combining live performance with ancillary revenue streams, and serving the same Indianapolis arts-going audience.
- Athenaeum Foundation: Indianapolis cultural center operating performance and event spaces in the Mass Ave area, hosting theatre, music, and community programming. Directly comparable as a multi-space cultural venue on the same cultural district, with overlapping audiences and a similar nonprofit operating model.
Regional players
- Hilbert Circle Theatre: Home venue of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, hosting classical concerts and related performing arts events. Comparable as a regional Indianapolis performing arts venue with similar programming focus, though specialized in orchestral rather than theatrical productions.
- Actors Theatre of Louisville: Regional professional theatre producing a season of contemporary and new plays in Louisville, KY. Comparable as a mid-size U.S. regional theatre with similar nonprofit mission and programming model, though operating in an adjacent Midwestern metro rather than Indianapolis directly.
- Clowes Memorial Hall: Indianapolis performing arts venue operated by Butler University hosting touring theatre, concerts, and dance. Comparable as a larger Indianapolis venue presenting performing arts to regional audiences, but operates at a significantly larger scale than District Theatre.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights1 record
Customer concentration
The District Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceThe District Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The District Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The District Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The District Theatre 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 District Theatre
What does The District Theatre do?
The District Theatre is a nonprofit live performance venue operating two indoor stages (120-seat Christel DeHaan Main Stage and 60-seat Cabaret Space), an 80-seat outdoor stage (OutBack Theatre), and a rotating visual arts gallery. It produces and hosts theatrical performances, concerts, dance shows, and art exhibitions, and rents its spaces to external performing groups, event organizers, and corporate clients while serving as an incubator for new professional resident equity theatre companies.
Is The District Theatre a public or private company?
The District Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The District Theatre founded?
The District Theatre was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The District Theatre based?
The District Theatre is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does The District Theatre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are venue Rental, donations and government and Foundation Grants.
Who are The District Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IndyFringe, Indianapolis Repertory Theatre, Footlite Musicals, Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre and Athenaeum Foundation. Regional players are Hilbert Circle Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Clowes Memorial Hall.
Does The District Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for The District Theatre.
What industry is The District Theatre in?
The District Theatre's product category is Live Performance Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses), with a secondary code of MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking). Its NAICS code is 71111 and its SIC code is 7900.