Nick A. (Ollie) Olivero is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Boxcar Theatre, a production company specializing in immersive and interactive theater experiences. He is also the creator of The Speakeasy, a long-running 1920s-themed immersive show in San Francisco, and has produced over 60 live experiences, including magic shows and haunted houses. With over 25 years of experience in theater, Ollie has raised millions of dollars in funding, built large-scale productions, and expanded into venue management and corporate events.

Attendance is declining in traditional theater, and immersive experiences are emerging as the new frontier. What does it take to build a multimillion-dollar immersive theater business that keeps people coming back?

Visionary immersive theater creator Nick A. (Ollie) Olivero says that engagement comes from blending artistic innovation with business strategy. While immersive theater can be a powerful experience, it must also be commercially viable to survive. Ollie’s journey began with small experimental productions and evolved into large-scale, interactive experiences like The Speakeasy, which required a $2.5 million venue build-out and $1.5 million in fundraising. He maintains that understanding audience psychology, creating memorable real-world experiences, and adapting through challenges have been critical to sustaining and growing his business.

In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, John Corcoran sits down with Nick A. (Ollie) Olivero, Co-Founder & Executive Director at Boxcar Theatre, to discuss how he built a thriving immersive theater business. He shares how he built The Speakeasy, the strategy behind turning theater into a sustainable business model, and how he successfully raised funding for large-scale productions.