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Effingham Performance Center tells council it draws patrons from 90‑mile radius and reports about $1.5 million in annual revenue
Summary
Representatives of the Effingham Performance Center told the city council the theater draws patrons from roughly a 90‑mile radius, sells about 40,000 tickets a season, and brings in roughly $1.5 million per year; presenters also summarized nearly $1 million in facility improvements over five years and thanked donors and grantors.
Kim Janssen, speaking for the Effingham Performance Center, told the city council on Dec. 2 that the theater draws patrons from roughly a 90‑mile radius and has growing season‑ticket support. “We sell around 40,000 tickets a season and get about 1.5 plus million in revenue every year,” Janssen said, listing Heartland Dental, Midland Bank and J and J Gaming among major sponsors.
Tom Henderson, introduced as the EPC board president, described capital work the nonprofit has completed since it assumed management, enumerating security upgrades, flooring, concession remodeling, parking improvements and HVAC upgrades. “Over the last five years, we’ve put in about almost 1,000,000 dollars,” Henderson said, and he credited the city’s earlier decision to buy the building with enabling the nonprofit to operate and invest.
Presenters said the EPC’s programming extends beyond headline acts: youth theater camps, school shows and community fundraisers bring area residents to the venue. Janssen said the center serves students across the county through educational outreach and free public shows; Henderson said local restaurants and hotels see spillover business on show nights.
Council members praised the nonprofit’s turnaround. Mayor Schutzbach noted debt service on the building — originally financed for about $3.3 million — has been nearly paid off “with no general fund money,” supported instead by hotel/motel tax revenue.
The presenters cited public and private grants that support operations and programming, including $50,000 from the Illinois Arts Council and a $5,000 grant used to fund a summer intern program. They also said the organization has added higher‑level donors and lobby advertising revenue, and that season‑ticket presales grew year over year.
The council did not take action on the presentation. The session concluded with thanks from the mayor and an acknowledgement of the theater’s role in keeping Effingham a regional entertainment destination.
