The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts

What The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts does

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts venue located on the Oklahoma State University campus at 705 W University Ave, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Founded in 2016, the center operates two primary facilities, the Performance Hall and the Recital Hall, and presents a 14-show annual season spanning Broadway productions, classical concerts with orchestras, jazz performances, and solo artist engagements. The 2026-2027 season features the National Symphony Orchestra, Cynthia Erivo, Joshua Bell, and Tony Award-winning Broadway productions including Shucked and Waitress.

The center generates revenue through three core streams: ticket sales (single event tickets and group bookings of 10+), season subscriptions across multiple tiers (McKnight Master Full at 14 shows, Master A at 6 shows, Master B at 7 shows, Broadway Package, Classical Package, and Create Your Own bundles, priced from approximately $109 to $2,341 depending on seating zone), and donations through the Director's Circle membership program (four tiers from $5,000 to $25,000+), the Bright Night Gala, Friends of McKnight, and the Encore Society planned giving program. All tickets carry a 20% fee plus 9.313% sales tax, and subscription orders include a $10 processing fee per bundle.

Its customer base includes performing arts patrons, committed season subscribers, group bookings from schools and businesses, Oklahoma State University students via rush ticket programs, and high-net-worth donors. The venue offers differentiated accessibility infrastructure including induction loop hearing technology, wheelchair-accessible seating, ASL interpreter availability, and a Matterport-powered virtual tour. Corporate sponsorship from Devon Energy as the official 2025-2026 Season sponsor and touring partnerships with Talmi Entertainment and Spot-On Entertainment support programming economics alongside individual ticket and subscription revenue.

Name

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts

Legal name

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts

Website

https://mcknightcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit venue on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma, presenting a 14-show annual season of Broadway, classical, jazz, and solo performances funded by ticket sales, subscriptions, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live concert events
• Broadway musicals
• Symphony orchestra concerts
• Arts education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Stillwater

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single event tickets, season subscriptions, and group sales for performances including Broadway shows, classical concerts, jazz, and special events
2. Season Subscriptions: Multi-show packages including McKnight Master Full (14 shows), Master A (6 shows), Master B (7 shows), Broadway package, Classical package, and Create Your Own bundles
3. Donations and Fundraising: The center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations through Director's Circle membership tiers, Bright Night Gala, annual giving, and Encore Society planned giving
4. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for any amount that can be redeemed for tickets to any performance at the venue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts operates as a multi-venue performing arts facility presenting ticketed live performances including Broadway musicals, symphony orchestra concerts, jazz performances, and solo artist recitals. Offerings include season subscriptions, single tickets, group sales, student rush programs, gift certificates, and donor memberships across the Performance Hall and Recital Hall on the Oklahoma State University campus.

Product overview

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts operates as a multi-venue performing arts facility offering ticketing and event services. The core product consists of Single Tickets and Season Subscription Packages (McKnight Master Full, McKnight Master A, McKnight Master B, Broadway Package, Classical Package, and Create Your Own) that provide access to performances in the Performance Hall and Recital Hall. Additional products include Group Sales, Student Rush Tickets, and Gift Certificates. Membership programs include the Director's Circle with tiered donor benefits. The venue also hosts Greenwood School of Music events and offers accessibility services including hearing loops and ASL interpretation. The center operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization at Oklahoma State University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single Tickets

Quantifiable outcome

• Oklahoma City Philharmonic impacts 35,000+ individuals annually through education programs

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Oklahoma City PhilharmonicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional orchestra collaborating with Cynthia Erivo for the Bright Night Gala Concert. The OKC Philharmonic traces roots to 1924 and formed in 1988, impacting 35,000+ individuals annually through education programs.
• National Symphony OrchestramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NSO, founded in 1931, performs approximately 150 concerts annually and will present two unique concerts at The McKnight Center in April 2027 under music director Gianandrea Noseda.
• Spot-On EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert production company founded by Scott Coulter that produces Stephen Schwartz and Friends concert event at The McKnight Center, featuring Broadway vocalists with a twelve-piece orchestra.
• Talmi EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive North American producer of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, presenting tours in 80+ cities annually. The McKnight Center hosts this largest Nutcracker production in North America.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kravis Center for the Performing Arts: Large regional PAC in West Palm Beach, FL with similar Broadway, classical, and education programming. Useful benchmark for subscription pricing tiers and donor development at a more mature scale.
• ASU Gammage: Frank Lloyd Wright-designed performing arts venue at Arizona State University. Larger-scale university-affiliated PAC with broader Broadway programming — comparable institutional model at greater scale.
• Segerstrom Center for the Arts: Large multi-venue performing arts complex in Costa Mesa, CA presenting Broadway, orchestra, and international touring. Represents what a more developed regional PAC evolves into — relevant scale benchmark.

Regional players

• Bass Performance Hall: Premier Fort Worth, TX PAC hosting Broadway in Fort Worth series, Fort Worth Symphony, and national touring acts. Comparable programming mix and ticket/subscription structure in a mid-sized Texas market.
• Tulsa Performing Arts Center: Major PAC in Tulsa, OK — same state as McKnight and overlapping donor/sponsor pool. Larger and longer-established, drawing audiences that McKnight might otherwise capture.
• Civic Center Music Hall: Oklahoma City's primary concert and Broadway venue, home of the OKC Philharmonic. Closest large-market competitor to McKnight for touring acts and regional subscribers.
• Brady Theater: Historic Tulsa, OK theater hosting touring concerts and Broadway productions. Same state and overlapping regional audience — relevant competitor for arts-engaged Oklahoma patrons.

Direct peers

• Walton Arts Center: University-community affiliated performing arts center in Fayetteville, AR (home of University of Arkansas). Presents Broadway, orchestras, and family programming with a similar hybrid subscription/ticket/donation model — directly comparable regional PAC peer.
• Staller Center for the Arts: Stony Brook University (NY) affiliated PAC presenting touring artists, film, and educational programming. Similar university-anchor model and scale to McKnight Center.
• Lied Center for Performing Arts: University of Nebraska-Lincoln affiliated PAC hosting Broadway tours, orchestras, and educational programming. Strong structural parallel — university campus venue, similar scale, comparable programming mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TheMcKnightCenterforthePerformingArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/McKnightCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcknightcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcknight-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts