CHEAP SEATS PART I
October 19, 2009 by Junvi
Filed under Arts and Culture
When the sun sets, the curtain rises at theaters throughout San Diego County. Their marquee lights are even brighter for savvy theatergoers like me, who usually strut in smug with a half-off ticket in hand. Want to get the same playtime without shelling out the big bucks? We’ve done the legwork for you to find the scoop on those hard-to-find cheap seats at major stages in town.
Photo credit: Old Globe/Craig Schwartz
AT THE BOX OFFICE
Old Globe Theatre
As one of the country’s leading regional theatre complexes, the Tony® Award-winning Old Globe presents 15 productions annually on their three stages in Balboa Park: Old Globe Theatre, Arena Stage, and Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. They are also San Diego’s largest theatre organization, but don’t expect any pretense. They’ve got a few discounts up their sleeves for smart ticket shoppers like us who can’t stomach a heavy price tag.
• For select performances, they set aside a limited amount of $29 tickets (average regular price for tickets are $60). But be quick about it! We recommend calling the box office the day tickets go on sale for the show you want to see (you won’t find these prices online) and let them know you want the $29 tickets (they won’t offer these unless you mention them).
• The younger-than-30-crowd can purchase up to two tickets for only $20 each through the theatre’s $20 Under 30 program. Sign up for the program online and they’ll update you on which performances accept the program’s discount price.
• The theatre sells Globe Tix, half-off tickets, to seniors (60 years old and better), students, and military with proper ID. The availability of these tickets are determined on a day-to-day basis, so call ahead. Globe Tix can only be purchased at the box office window (read: Don’t expect to find these half-off tickets online).
Lamb’s Players Theatre
Lamb’s Players Theatre produces timeless classics and lesser-known gems of the theatre year-round on their resident stage in Coronado and at the downtown Horton Grand Theatre.
• The Under 30 program allows 20-somethings to purchase up to two tickets at half off. The same discount is given to active military and students with valid ID. With some seats priced at $20, you’ll end up paying as much as you would for a movie.
• An hour before a show, they sell all remaining seats for just $25. Call ahead as the box office knows when the rush tickets will be available (it’s the director’s call).
Broadway San Diego
The secret to snagging the coveted discounts to any Broadway San Diego show at the Civic or Balboa Theatres is to…. wait. Arrive an hour and a half before the show to purchase rush tickets for any remaining seats. Tickets can go for as little as half-off, but be prepared to pay in cash. Rush tickets are not available for every performance, so call ahead to save yourself the drive. Best times to try are Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
La Jolla Playhouse
San Diego’s other Tony® Award-winning theatre is a haven for cash-strapped theatre-lovers and presents bold and innovative productions May through November on UCSD’s campus.
• They offer Pay-What-You-Can performances that coincide with their ACCESS performances (American Sign Language interpretation). During these ACCESS performances (check their calendar for dates), 100 tickets are held for Pay-What-You-Can theatergoers and are only on sale 11am – 12pm that day. However, be smart about it. Some savvy PWYC veterans arrive hours beforehand to stand in line. Some rules: cash only basis, $1 minimum and you can purchase up to two tickets per patron.
• LPJ also sells rush tickets for seniors (ages 62 and older) and full-time students one hour before certain performances (call the box office ahead). These rush tickets are $20 for musicals and $15 for all other plays. The rush line is available for the first six performances of all productions for seniors and is always available for full-time students; one rush ticket per student.
Check back for CHEAP SEATS PART II to find out how to snag discount play tickets at more San Diego theatres.
