Seeing Theatre for Cheap

The Dramatic Arts are among the first of many professions to get shafted in these harsh economic times. And a lot of it has to do with how expensive tickets for theatre can get.

Hell, even movie tickets are getting pretty pricey these days…..!

But being an avid supporter of the arts (and having worked for a theatre company) I know that there are a number of ways to still see plays without having to empty out your savings account. And I thought I would share some of these ‘well-kept secrets’ in hopes of keeping theatre alive in Los Angeles.

Online Ticketing Companies: Goldstar Events is probably the easiest way to see a show for cheap. I’m not sure how they do this, but they sell tickets for every venue that they advertise (theatre, concert, comedy show, sporting event, etc.) for *half* the price that the venue does. (Ex. a $50.00 ticket would be $25.00 through Goldstar) I have even seen a few shows where the tickets are free. (The Ark Theatre does this sometimes) Sure there are handling fees, but that’s still a huge discount. There’s also no cost to sign up for Goldstar – it’s like signing up for a membership at Vons. The only drawback is that you do get what you pay for. The cheaper you are, the more likely it is that you will be seated waaaay in the back, so be warned.

Uh, there are probably others like Ticketmaster that do the same thing.

Get to Know an actor / someone who works in a theatre: I don’t recommend this technique unless you’re desperate because it can sometimes be unreliable - Theatres can sometimes limit the number of comp tickets they give out to their employees, or even ban them altogether. Also – sometimes the show really sucks and you’ll wish you could pay to leave early.

Preview Shows: A lot of the larger theatres have a week’s worth of performances called “Preview shows” where the tickets are sold for a (slightly) cheaper price than during the rest of the show’s run. They do this to entice theatre goers into taking a chance on a show that hasn’t been reviewed yet. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled, though, because a lot of plays don’t get heavily advertised until AFTER the review has come out.

Pay What you Can: Exactly what it sounds like; most theatres are obligated to have a “pay what you can” night of theatre in order to qualify as a non-profit organization. (or so I’ve been told) There’s usually a “minimum donation,” but it’s usually just $1.00. Call ahead so you can figure out if they have a “Pay what you can” night and, if so, when it is. I know that the Boston Court Theatre (in Pasadena) has a variation on this called “Pay what it’s Worth” – accepting donations for shows AFTER the performance lets out.

Usher / Volunteer: Since there’s no money in Theatre, a lot of them ask for volunteers, offering to “pay” people with free tickets to their shows. It’s a little work and you may have to dress nicer than you normally would, but I think it’s worth at least that much to see a show for free. Plus – this is a good way to meet new people who share your love / like of stage plays.

Rush Tickets: When a show is getting close to performance time and they still have a lot of seats to sell, a lot of theatres will do so at a discounted price, just to create the “illusion” of a full house. Plus – it’s better to sell a seat for less than to not sell it at all, right? Keep in mind that not all theatres do this so I would suggest calling ahead before rushing down there to find out that they don’t.

Student Discounts: Just like at the cinemas, live theatres usually give huge discounts to anyone still in school. But again, certain restrictions do apply. At some theatres I’ve gone to, they only give you the discount on certain nights. (like a Tuesday) So call ahead and get the details.

Subscribe: If you like seeing theatre A LOT, then you might as well just subscribe to one that you like the most. The ticket prices are usually discounted because you’re basically paying for it in bulk. The larger Theatres usually have a variety of subscription packages catering to all sorts of theatre goers so ask around and see if you like any of them. For this, I would recommend not asking someone who works for the theatre, but someone who subscribes because the theatre is more likely to put some pressure on you to buy when you may not want to.



So now that you know all these ways to see a show for cheap (if not for free), I have to ask that you do *something* to pay a little more than you already have: get something at the concession stand; buy a raffle ticket; ask if there’s a way you can donate a few bucks; etc. And if you like a show – please tell people about it. (Don't tell them who you saw it for cheap, though)

With the way things are going, it won’t be long before theatre will be dead in L.A. and everyone will be forced to go to the movies instead. And with crap like “The Tooth Fairy” out right now, how long can it be before Hollywood goes broke too, amIrite??

(no offense to anyone who saw & liked "The Tooth Fairy")