PEAK Performances, Montclair State University

What PEAK Performances, Montclair State University does

PEAK Performances is a performing arts presenting program operating within Montclair State University's Office of Arts + Cultural Programming, founded in 2004 and based at 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey. The organization develops, produces, and presents professional live performances in dance, music, theater, opera, musical theater, film, and multi-disciplinary formats across four university venues, principally the 500-seat Alexander Kasser Theater. Its core audience comprises Montclair State University's 21,000+ students, faculty, and staff, plus regional residents of Essex and Passaic Counties in New Jersey, with NYC Penn Station accessible within 50 minutes via NJ Transit.

The program's commercial model relies on a hybrid revenue structure: ticket sales at $20-$55 per ticket cover approximately 20% of the annual operating budget, while the remaining ~80% is funded through donations, the Alexander Kasser Theater Endowment Fund, PEAK Patrons, and grant support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Distribution is multi-channel, including direct online ticketing via Tix.com, a physical box office, group sales with tiered discounts (10-30%), free admission for MSU students, $35 faculty/staff tickets, and the Peak Plus Streaming platform for recorded performances. Marketing is executed by a small team (6-10 staff) across email, organic social, university channels, and earned media.

PEAK Performances maintains a network of co-presentation partnerships with major U.S. and international arts institutions—including BAM, Walker Art Center, Wexner Center for the Arts, Onassis Stegi, FACE Foundation, and Mid Atlantic Arts—enabling risk-sharing on international touring productions. The program operates within a public university governance structure with no private ownership, no outside investors, and no M&A activity. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary technology platforms, or patents are associated with the organization; the business is fundamentally a service-based live performance presenter dependent on institutional funding, artist relationships, and venue infrastructure.

Name

PEAK Performances, Montclair State University

Legal name

PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

Website

https://peakperfs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PEAK Performances is a university-based performing arts presenter at Montclair State University that develops, produces, and presents professional live dance, music, theater, and film programming for the university community and regional New Jersey audiences, operating across multiple campus venues with a hybrid ticket-sales and institutional-donation revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Performance Presenting

NAICS

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 industry

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

Keywords

• Performing arts presentations
• Live theater productions
• Dance and music performances
• University arts programming
• Professional stage performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Montclair

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: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales to performances. Ticket prices vary by event ($20-$55 for standard performances, with free admission for MSU students and discounted rates for faculty/staff at $35. Revenue from ticket sales covers approximately 20% of annual operating budget.
2. Donations and Institutional Giving: Major funding source through individual patron donations, corporate sponsorships, and institutional giving programs. Acknowledges support from foundations, corporations, and government agencies including New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
3. Group Sales: Revenue from group ticket sales with tiered discount structure: 10+ tickets save 10%, 20+ save 20%, 30+ save 30%, plus 1 free ticket per 10 purchased.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PEAK Performances is the professional performing arts presenting program of Montclair State University. It develops, produces, and presents live professional theater, dance, music, and family-oriented performances for the university community and the broader northern New Jersey region, programming events across multiple on-campus venues including the 500-seat Alexander Kasser Theater, Memorial Auditorium, Amphitheater, and Presentation Hall.

Product overview

PEAK Performances is a comprehensive performing arts presenting program operated by the Office of Arts + Cultural Programming at Montclair State University. The organization develops, produces, and presents world-class, accessible live professional performances across multiple venues including the 500-seat Alexander Kasser Theater, Memorial Auditorium, Presentation Hall, and Amphitheater. The portfolio includes a core season of dance, music, theater, opera, musical theater, and film programming, complemented by the Peak Plus streaming platform for recorded performances, student and faculty discount programs, group sales, and venue rental services. The organization connects academic life with surrounding communities in Essex and Passaic Counties through ticketed events, free streaming content, and educational outreach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peak Plus Streaming: A streaming platform that makes captured performances available to audiences for free, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to capture series of performances without live audiences.

Products and services

• PEAK Performances Annual Season

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 years of continuous programming with hundreds of performances from 2004-present
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mid Atlantic ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtsCONNECT program partner providing support for touring productions. Facilitated the engagement of Manual Cinema for Frankenstein performance.
• FACE FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-American Cultural Exchange supporting contemporary theater programming. Partner for Cie L'Oublié(e) and other French company presentations through FACE Contemporary Theatre program.
• Onassis StegiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek cultural institution co-producing international dance programming. Partnered on Amorphy's ANΩNYMO production.
• BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor performing arts center in New York serving as co-production partner for international dance presentations including Lia Rodrigues Companhia de Danças.
• Walker Art CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinneapolis contemporary arts center co-presenting international dance programming with PEAK Performances.
• Wexner Center for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio State University's arts center co-presenting international dance programming including Lia Rodrigues.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAiOVWCaYolhRIjojDM-NXw
• Facebookfacebook.com/peakperfs
• Instagraminstagram.com/montclair_peakperfs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 PEAK Performances, Montclair State University