Newcity Stage

Theater, Dance, Comedy and Performance in Chicago

End of the Zeroes: Operating Budgets Then and Now

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by Brian Hieggelke
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The 2006/07 season brought the grand opening of the new Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, following more than $11 million in renovations

The 2006/07 season brought the grand opening of the new Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, following more than $11 million in renovations

Annoyance Theatre (founded 1987)
“We don’t really have a regular operating budget—just plan as we go along.”
—Jennifer Estlin, President, Annoyance Theatre

The Artistic Home (founded 1998)
End of nineties: $62,000
End of zeroes: $164,500

Bailiwick Chicago (founded 2009)
End of nineties: N/A (Bailiwick Repertory is now defunct)
End of zeroes: $120,000 projected 2010

Chicago Dramatists (founded 1979)
End of nineties: $171,000
End of zeroes: $550,000

Collaboraction (founded 1996)
End of nineties: $50,000
End of zeroes: $500,000

Court Theatre (founded 1955)
End of nineties: $2.6 million
End of zeroes: $3.2 million

The Factory Theater (founded 1992)
“I actually do not know what it was in the nineties since I was not around and some of that information didn’t survive being pulled forward. Probably not very much. These days it fluctuates around the 50k mark.”
— Carrie J. Sullivan, Executive Director, The Factory Theater

First Folio Theatre (founded 1997)
End of nineties: $95,000
End of zeroes: $400,000

Goodman Theatre (founded 1925)
End of nineties: $10.5 million
End of zeroes: $17.5 million

Hobo Junction (founded 2004)
End of nineties: N/A
End of zeroes: $14,000

The Hypocrites (founded 1997)
End of nineties: $50,000
End of zeroes: $170,000

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre (founded 2001)
End of nineties: N/A
End of zeroes: $50,000

Light Opera Works (founded 1980)
End of nineties: $1,000,000
End of zeroes: $1,400,000

Lookingglass Theatre Company  (founded 1988)
End of nineties: $1,000,000
End of zeroes: $4,200,000

The Neo-Futurists (founded 1988)
End of nineties: $300,000
End of zeroes: $300,000

New Leaf Theatre (founded 2001)
End of nineties: N/A
End of zeroes: $17,000

Northlight Theatre (founded 1974)
End of nineties: $1.7 million
End of zeroes: $3.3 million

Raven Theatre Co. (1983)
End of nineties: $150,000
End of zeroes: $380,000

A Red Orchid Theatre (1992)
End of nineties: $40,000
End of zeroes: $158,000

Remy Bumppo (1996)
End of nineties: NA, for-profit until 2001
End of zeroes:  $760,000

Serendipity Theatre Collective and 2nd Story (1999)
End of nineties: $20,000
End of zeroes: $80,000

the side project (founded 2000)
End of nineties: $5,000
End of zeroes:  $50,000

16th Street Theater (founded 2007)
End of nineties: N/A
End of zeroes:  $95,000

Steppenwolf Theatre Company (founded 1976)
End of nineties: $8.344 million
End of zeroes:  $14.9 million

Teatro Luna (founded 2000)
End of nineties: $11,000
End of zeroes:  $137,000

Theater Oobleck (founded 1988)
End of nineties: $60,000
End of zeroes:  $60,000

Theatre Seven (2006)
End of nineties: N/A
End of zeroes: $65,000

TimeLine Theatre Company (1997)
End of nineties: $48,011
End of zeroes: $796,330

TUTA Theatre Chicago (2001)
End of nineties: N/A
End of zeroes: $150,000

Victory Gardens Theater (1974)
End of nineties: $1.468 million
End of zeroes: $3.1 million

WNEP Theater (1992)
End of nineties: $100,000
End of zeroes: $20,000

Writers’ Theatre (1992)
End of nineties: $390,000
End of zeroes: $3.2 million