Previews! Almost all theaters need to get in a few performances in front of a live audience before they are comfortable opening the show for reviewers. These are always the lowest priced tickets you’ll find.
The Goldstar app is your best friend. While it’s more of a wild-card as to what tickets will be available, Goldstar.com offers half price tickets – and sometimes they’re free! I’ve seen great deals from PPAC and others around RI, and while they don’t advertise it per se, keep an eye out for “Comp” offers for certain dates. (Because, well, free is always better.)
Join those email lists – it’ll pay off. When theaters need to fill certain performances, they’ll put out promo codes to their super fans via email lists. This also is the best way to hear about pre-sale promotions (I recently lucked out and got super discounted seats to see Nick Offerman at the Huntington by being on their email list).
Facebook. This is where you’ll see coupon codes, contests for free tickets and last-minute deals that groups want to quietly offer to their insiders.
Ask the box office! I know this sounds really old-school, but online promo codes aside, it’s totally ok to call the box office and just ask if they are running any deals.
Holidays and Super Bowl Sunday are awesome for cheap seats. What do Easter, Mother’s Day and Super Bowl Sunday all have in common? Theater is not the first thing on anyone’s “to do” list. Especially the dramas – “Hey Ma, I’m taking you to see a zombie play for Mother’s Day!” (true story). But if you are adventurous (like me) and have no qualms with DVR’ing the Super Bowl (also me), almost every theater needs you to come to their shows and will offer deep discounts to lure people away from their brunches and buffets. And you know you’ll be at the theater with like-minded people – a total win-win.
Subscriptions Yeah, yeah, your grandma and mom have a subscription to PPAC or some such and that makes it uncool. But I ask you, how many times have you bought those intro magazine offers for cheap and then enjoyed your shiny mag for an entire year without a second thought? Same deal here – commitment gets rewarded BIG TIME. Theaters want you to commit to them for a year — even if it’s only three shows — and they’ll give you the cheapest tickets if you go all in. Combine subscription discounts with preview deals for huge savings.
Here’s what some of our local theaters are offering this holiday season
25% Off Sale
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5as this is THE day to pick up tickets to concerts and shows at an incredible 25% off regular prices at VETS and PPAC with their annual holiday sale. Use promo code WINTRY at the Vets and promo code FROSTY at PPAC to receive the discount. Sale is good online, in person and by phone (thevetsri.com and ppacri.org). During my interview with the Vets for this article, they offered Motif readers a 15% discount off tickets to An Intimate Evening With Matisyahu at the Vets on December 5. Code LIGHT15 will get you the deal.
$10 Previews
For a sawbuck, be the first of your friends to see the next hit show!
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2nd Story Theatre in Market Street, Warren offers their first weekend of previews for $10 (2ndstorytheatre.com).
Epic Theatre at Theatre82, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston offers $10 previews for the first weekend as well (artists-exchange.org).
Gift Cards and Certificates
Most theaters offer these year-round and they can be used toward tickets, subscriptions and often concessions.
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GAMM gift certificates start at $10 and are available online at gammtheatre.org.
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PPAC gift certificates start at $25 and are available online at ppacri.org.
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Stadium Theater in Woonsocket cover all events and never expire. Starting at $10. Call 401-762-4545 or order online at stadiumtheatre.com.
Pay What You Can (PWYC) Deals
Yes, you can pay whatever you can afford, it’s totally cool. Just go and enjoy!
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Trinity Rep’s Pay What You CanNight is the first Friday preview of every show. Cash only, on sale at 6:30pm that night, line starts at 5:30pm. Visit trinityrep.com for dates.
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Mixed Magic Theatre at 560 Mineral Spring Ave, Pawtucket. The first Friday preview is PWYC. View full schedule at mmtri.com.
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Theatre82 at 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston has an amazing ongoing Pay What You Can Family Series every Saturday from 11am-1Noon now through May. Lineup includes family faves Big Nazo, Marc Kohler, Sparky’s Puppets, Marc Levitt and more (artists-exchange.org)!
Rush Tickets
Usually around 50% off and cash only, but perfect for the spontaneous!
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The Gamm, 172 Exchange St, Pawtucket, RI offers $25 rush tickets one hour prior to curtain, in person at the box office (gammtheatre.org).
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Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) 220 Weybosset Street, Providence offers 50% off seats for students and seniors on sale two hours prior to curtain, in person with valid ID (ppacri.org or 401-421-ARTS).
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Trinity Rep offers $26 rush on sale two hours prior to curtain, in person only at the the box office at 201 Washington St, Providence (trinityrep.com). They also have an unreal deal for Brown students only – get yourself and your student ID to the box office for a free ticket starting at 5pm on any show day – some restrictions apply and no Saturdays. But really. Free. 401-351-5252.