2018

Date Closed: May

Founded in 1983, Phoenix Theatre is one of Indiana’s oldest nonprofit professional theater troupes. Phoenix Theatre determines its operations and programming had outgrown its aging repurposed church venue near Mass Ave in 2017. Indy CDE provided a $10 million NMTC loan to finance the construction of a modern 20,000 square foot theater just seven blocks north of the heart of Indianapolis. Phoenix Theatre serves as an economic generator in a low-income community with a 43.2% poverty rate and a 19% unemployment rate.

Phoenix Theatre has been able to triple audience capacity and allocate space for an actors incubator. The facility also increased its programming capacity by adding space for three new theater companies, two performance spaces, dedicated areas for scene construction, and additional office space.

Phoenix Theatre has also been able to engage increasingly diverse audiences with expanding educational and cultural programming. As part of its educational programming, Phoenix Theatre offers extremely affordable classes to residents, including fundraising techniques. The Center’s increased capacity is expected to generate new revenue, which will allow the organization to achieve more organizational self-sufficiency. Generating more revenue affords Phoenix Theatre the opportunity to transition part-time jobs to full-time jobs and provide theatre arts training to low-income youth and adults. These efforts fuel the growth of a new generation of local performing arts talent.