The Chicagoland Theatre Fund (CTF) today announced the launch of a new online streaming platform designed to showcase workshops, concerts, and developmental presentations of new or revived theatrical works while fostering meaningful partnerships between creators, nonprofit theatres, and theatre education programs.
The platform enables nonprofit theatres and accredited theatre education programs access to stream original content created by artists and producing organizations. Through a built-in commission structure, creators may issue commissions to participating educational programs, allowing those programs to earn a percentage of ticket sales generated through their own networks.
This revenue-sharing model is designed to support arts education while expanding the reach and accessibility of new theatrical work beyond traditional venues.
“Our goal is to help reshape how new theatrical work is developed, financed, and distributed,” said Mak Michelson of the Chicagoland Theatre Fund. “By leveraging digital tools and strategic partnerships, we’re working to grow the theatrical landscape beyond the traditional Broadway pipeline and create sustainable opportunities for artists, institutions, and audiences nationwide.”
In conjunction with the platform launch, CTF is now accepting applications for future streaming projects. Submissions should be sent to chicagolandtheatrefund@gmail.com and include a 5-slide deck outlining:
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Project overview and vision
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Creative team and cast information
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Any financing or development history
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Any sample work
Theatre education programs and nonprofits interested in fundraising through the platform may sign up to receive additoinal information at:
https://www.chicagolandtheatrefund.com/community
The streaming platform is intended to complement live performance by providing a flexible tool for development, audience-building, and education, including staged readings, concerts, workshops, and classroom-integrated programming.
About the Chicagoland Theatre Fund
The Chicagoland Theatre Fund is a theatre-focused venture fund dedicated to investing in, developing, and scaling new theatrical works and distribution models. CTF’s mission is to expand the theatrical ecosystem beyond traditional Broadway pathways by supporting innovative projects, emerging creators, and alternative platforms that broaden access, audience reach, and financial sustainability across the industry.