1. Fill out and Return the Katzen Facilities Request Form.
2. If the date/space is available, you will be sent an estimate.
3. Sign and return the estimate. A formal contract will be created between you/your organization and American University. At the time of signing, the following will be due:
   • Deposit (44% of the estimate)
   • Non-profit 501(c)3 letter (if applicable)
   • Insurance
4. After your event is over you will receive a final invoice reflecting the remainder of your bill (including actual staff hours and equipment used).

 

Catering: Your caterer must have a DC catering and liquor license. Alcohol must be served by a licensed bartender. Please contact us for a list of vendors that have worked at Katzen before and know the space well.

Alcohol: If you would like to have alcohol served at your event, Katzen will need to put in a request form to the CAS Dean’s Office for special permission.

Tables/Linens: Katzen does NOT own or have catering tables and linens. Everything must be rented through your caterer or a party rental company. All deliveries must be dropped off and picked up the same day as your event.

Insurance: Please note that in order to rent space within the Katzen Arts Center, all rentals must acquire commercial general liability insurance. This insurance must include a minimum of $2,000,000.00 general aggregate and $2,000,000.00 each occurrence. The certificate of insurance must have American University listed as an additional certificate holder for the date(s) contracted.

Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs & other Private Receptions: Because the Katzen Arts Center is home to AU’s Departments of Performing & Visual Arts, we can only host weddings & private receptions during our non-academic summer months (including late May through mid-August). We must give scheduling priority to AU campus organizations; which means, we cannot book summer dates to external clients until January prior to the following summer. For example, if you would like to hold your event on 5/31/2026 in the Katzen Arts Center, we could not reserve the space for you until January 2026—until then there is no guarantee of availability, but we are happy to show you the space and discuss pricing prior to that time.

Ticketing Services: Please inquire if your event requires ticketing services, including open box office hours for your event.

Event Staff: Staff time and requirements for all events is at the discretion of the Katzen Arts Center.

 

Type of Events

• Performances: best used for private recitals, choirs, instrumentals, poetry readings, and theatre that requires minimal stage and lighting support (the space is not equipped with a grid, colored lights, etc.).
• Non-Performance Events: lectures, film screenings, presentations, panel discussions and audience Q&A

Sample Rental Costs

Please fill out the Katzen Facilities Request Form in order to check availability and receive a custom estimate to your specific event needs.

Mandatory Costs

• Recital Hall, Space Rental Fee: $2,250 (for-profit org)/ $1,913 (non-profit org) Half Day Rental: reduces the rental fee by 50% and includes a 4-hour event window (including load-in and load out).
• Events Manager: $54 per hr. (for profit)/ $46 per hr. (non-profit) This position is mandatory to all events, load-in through complete load out.
• Events Assistant: $32 per hr. (for profit)/ $29 per hr. (non-profit) Ushers are mandatory based on event size and complexity.
• Recital Hall Lighting: $50 (for profit)/ $40 (nonprofit)

Optional Costs and Highly Recommended

• Computer/Audio Engineer: $65 per hr. (for profit)/ $59 per hr. (non-profit) This position is mandatory when renting any additional equipment besides Recital Hall Lighting. This includes lighting needs (i.e. having the house dim at a certain time), mic operation, PowerPoint, stage setup etc.
• Acoustic Panels: $100 ea. x 7 = $700 max (for profi t)/ $50 ea. x 7 = $350 max (non-profit) Strongly encouraged for small performances and non-performance events to help control natural acoustics; creates an elegant on-stage backdrop.
• Lectern (includes 1 wireless hand-held mic): $50 (for profit)/ $40 (nonprofit)
• Kreeger Lobby, Space Rental Fee: $1500 (for profit)/ $1,275 (non-profit) If you are planning a reception or any formal gathering, before or after, an event in the Recital Hall, then a rental fee IS mandatory for the lobby. If you ONLY plan to use the lobby for event check-in/registration, then you will not be charged a space fee for its use.

Optional Equipment Costs

• PowerPoint/Fixed Projector Package: $75 (for profit)/ $50 (non-profit)
• Macbook Pro: $150 (for profit)/ $120 (non-profit)
• Handheld Audio Package (includes up to 4 mics): $125 (for profit)/ $100 (non-profit)
• Q&A Discussion/Panel Audio Package (includes 4 table top mics, 2 wireless mics): $200(for profit)/ $150 (non-profit)
• Steinway Grand Piano: $200 (for profit)/ $150 (non-profit). Piano rentals also require a piano tuning $250 (for profit)/ $225 (non-profit)
• Misc. Equipment:
  • Lavalier mics, HDTV packages, Kawai Upright piano rental, 6-foot folding plastic tables(cannot be used for catering purposes), black orchestra chairs, a greenroom with private bathroom (located backstage), etc.

Type of Events

Seated/standing receptions, fundraisers & galas, opening receptions for exhibits (when also rented with the rotunda gallery walls), weddings & private receptions (only possible during non-academic months, including late May through mid-August), etc.

Sample Rental Costs

Please fill out the Katzen Facilities Request Form in order to check availability and receive a custom estimate to your specific event needs.

Mandatory Costs

• First Floor Rotunda, Space Rental Fee: $1,200 (for profit)/ $1,020 (nonprofit) Half Day Rental: reduces the rental fee by 50% and includes a 4-hour event window (including load-in and load out).
• Events Manager, $54 per hr. (for profit)/ $46 per hr. (non-profit): This position is mandatory to all events, load-in through complete load out.
• Events Assistant, $32 per hr. (for profit)/ $29 per hr. (non-profit): All additional event support is at the discretion of the Katzen Staff and based on event size and complexity.

Optional Costs and Highly Recommended

• Equipment: piano rentals, 6-foot folding plastic tables (cannot be used for catering purposes), black orchestra chairs, etc.
• Spaces: a variety of classrooms can be rented for board meetings, breakout sessions, workshops, prep spaces, etc.

• Computer/Audio Engineer, $65 per hr. (for profit)/ $59 per hr. (non-profit): This position is mandatory when renting any additional equipment to Katzen.
• Rotunda Audio Package, $325 (for profit)/ $250 (non-profit): Includes mics & speakers. If you have a DJ, they can plug into our audio system, which is custom built for the space.
• Catering Room (this is a classroom with concrete floors that serves as a catering “kitchen”), $1,125 (for profit)/ $956 (non-profit): Choral/Ensemble Room 151 is most commonly used, and is located right under the 5 stairs. If this is not rented, then make sure that your caterer is able to set up a pipe and drape kitchen. Please note, it will be visible to your guests and “kitchen” noises will likely be heard.

Optional Costs

• 2^nd Floor Rotunda, Space Rental Fee, $1,125 (for profit)/ $956 (non-profit): Acts as an extension of the 1^st floor Rotunda for larger events, or for events that would like to create a VIP space or cocktail hour.
• 60-inch LED HDTV w/Life Case, $500 (for profit)/ $400 (non-profit): Ideal for scrolling PowerPoints, sponsorship announcements, live tweets, etc. HDTV packages that include 2-3 TVs are available with special pricing.

Miscellany

• Equipment: piano rentals, 6-foot folding plastic tables (cannot be used for catering purposes), black orchestra chairs, etc.
• Spaces: a variety of classrooms can be rented for board meetings, breakout sessions, workshops, prep spaces, etc.

All external event rentals at the AU Museum are subject to the loan agreements that American University holds with the artists that are currently exhibiting. For this reason, it is rare for the Museum to be able to rent space to external clients. If you would like to inquire about space availability, please contact Maria Benzie, Patron Service & Event Coordinator, at AUArts@american.edu. 

Rental Fee: $12,000 (for profit) / $10,200 (non-profit). 

Prices do not include event staff or equipment costs. 

All inquiries should be directed to Greg Anderson, Facilities & Production Manager, Greenberg Theatre, at ganderso@american.edu.