[NEohioPAL] State of the theatre

[Grumio85]

Though certainly not nearly as extensive as the Play House program, Beck Center likewise is making the effort in reaching out to students. Our production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" has been specifically geared toward student matinees where it will play to almost 5,000 students this month. The price for many is $6 and for many others is free. We specifically sought some underwriting to aid us in this project.

The words and thoughts of this original thread are not lost though~~~we need to keep reinventing the wheel and keep it turning so as to inspire the new generations of tomorrow's theatre goers.

Scott Spence
Artistic Director
The Beck Center



In a message dated 02/13/08 11:29:21 Eastern Standard Time, sgordon at clevelandplayhouse.com writes:
Mr. Dolan, as I type this email 315 students are watching Gee's Bend, the current offering at the Cleveland Play House, at no cost to them. During the course of our season over 40,000 students of all ages see plays at the Cleveland Play House, both our plays for children and our mainstage productions, at no cost to the student.

The Play House also has a program that teaches high school students to be advocates for theatre at their schools, and substantial discounts for all students. More information on our extensive education programming is available on our website.

Best wishes,

Seth Gordon 
Associate Artistic Director 
Cleveland Play House 
8500 Euclid Avenue 
Cleveland, OH 44106 
216 795 7000 x207 
www.clevelandplayhouse.com 









From: neohiopal-bounces at listserve.com [mailto:neohiopal-bounces at listserve.com] On Behalf Of Fred Dolan
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 9:39 AM
To: neohiopal at listserve.com
Subject: Re: [NEohioPAL] State of the theatre 


When I was a kid in the 50s maybe 5th grade, I remember going on a field trip to see the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall. It was a life-changing event. 
When I was in high school in the 60s, it was possible to get student tickets to some of the annual Metropolitan Opera performances through school for about $1.25.
When I was teaching in the 70s, I offered those same discounted student opera tickets to my students and sometimes the most unlikely students would dress up and go to the opera.
I don't know how various theaters handle encouraging young audiences to attend their performances today, but when I see empty seats at theater, ballet, and opera performances,
I wonder if any effort is being made to offer high school or college students those tickets at drastically reduced prices - like those Met Opera tickets that I grew up using.
I understand that most theaters are understaffed and that a program like this takes someone to be in charge of it, but the first order of business in building an audience for tomorrow is getting them in the seats today.
Fred Dolan
WJCU-FM, 88.7 & wjcu.org
Arts On The Heights &
Visiting The Folks on Sunday nights from 9:00PM - Midnight

  
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