Theatres conjure magical show prices
Pay-what-you-can model makes live performances accessible for all budgets
Last year, the non-profit company Why Not Theatre adopted a pay-what-you-can model with its production of Prince
Hamlet at the Theatre Centre on Queen St. W., allowing audiences to choose between one of four payment options, the lowest starting at $5, with general admission seating for all.
The new pricing strategy stuck.
“Theatre has, for a long time in this country, been viewed as entertainment for a certain class of people,” said Kelly Read, executive producer of Why Not.
“Low ticket prices help to ensure that anyone with even a small bit of curiosity about an event will feel more comfortable taking that chance.”
With “powerful stories from all kinds of communities” being portrayed, Read said the energy of the art form is something anyone can appreciate.
“Even as a spectator, you are a participant. When something happens live, it will never happen exactly that way again. It is experienced by all that are present and disappears forever …
“There is actually no such thing as a passive spectator to a live performance — your energy, reaction, and quite simply your presence change it.” Why Not is one of many Toronto live performance companies, large and small, that reg- ularly offer low-cost ($5 and under), pay-what-you-can or free shows.
At the Alumnae Theatre Company, drawing in theatregoers on all budgets has been a priority since its inception in 1918.
This continues today with PWYC Sunday matinees. Performances take place in a beau- tifully converted firehall on Berkeley St., where famous plays and original Canadian works are produced.
“As the oldest theatre company in Toronto, Alumnae Theatre Company has been offering free, low-priced or pay-whatyou-can performances since our earliest days,” said theatre president Brenda Darling. “The women who founded this women-led company were recent grads of U of T and, from personal experience, knew students had little extra money for cultural events.”
PWYC tickets can also be found at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre on Sundays, and at Canadian Stage on Tuesdays.
Also, Young People’s Theatre offers at least one PWYC viewing for every production, while at Soulpepper, the 21-and-under crowd can take advantage of $5 rush tickets to any play, based on availability.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other ways to stretch your live-entertainment dollar.
Find lunch-hour inspiration by attending the Canadian Opera Company’s popular Free Concert Series, where music fills the Four Seasons Centre’s sun-drenched Richard Bradshaw amphitheatre.
Artists from around the world perform in six series: vocal, piano, jazz, dance, chamber and world music.
Perhaps it’s the power of words that speak to you.
If so, for just $5 you can listen as poets read their works at the Art Bar Poetry Series, held at the Free Times Café on College St., every Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Sit back and relish some good stories at True Stories Told Live, which is exactly that — folks telling stories from their lives.
Shows are held at The Garrison on Dundas St. W. throughout the year, and most are free.
Get those feel-good endorphins going at the Comedy Bar, where you’ll find $5 laughs on the calendar every week.
At the Bloor St. W. venue’s Chuckle Co. event, “hump day” gets a hilarious boost with $5 shows starring local stand-up comics every Wednesday night.
Sunday nights at The Social Capital on the Danforth features a rotating mix of improv, standup comedy and cold reads.
It’s a laid-back vibe and, if you’re feeling brave, test your comedic chops during an openmic session. Most shows are free or PWYC.