People have it in their heads that live theater is an expensive night out beyond the pocketbooks of mere mortals. And while it’s true that in New York or Chicago you might find yourself paying well upwards of $100 for a ticket, in Indianapolis you can check out fantastic local theater for less than the price of a movie ticket.
At Footlite Musicals, no ticket costs more than $20, which is a steal in and of itself. But if you take advantage of their Thrifty Thursday pricing, you’ll pay just $10. I took advantage of this pricing to see the community playhouse’s production of RENT earlier this year, and was amazed both at the size and quality of the cast. Upcoming shows include Seussical, The Last Five Years and Follies.
The Phoenix Theatre specializes in contemporary and original plays and musicals, like Seminar and their annual Christmas show, this year subtitled Gettin’ Figgy With It. On a normal night, tickets run $23 for plays and $33 for musicals. But if you check out shows during any performance’s opening weekend, you can take advantage of Katrina Basile Realtor Cheap Seats, with play tickets at $18 and musicals at $23. Plus, you can be the first to brag to your friends about the amazing show you’ve just seen. Win-win.
NoExit Performance is one of Indy’s newer theater companies, exploding onto the scene with their funny and moving production of I Am Peter Pan during the Indy Fringe Festival. Their Facebook page is full of great deals, including free tickets in exchange for volunteering to do table reads or other tasks. You can also snatch up $10 tickets to the November 3rd performance of the dark comedy Death for Sydney Black if you’re a fan of their page.
At most theaters throughout town, you can also save by buying season ticket packages, which include significant savings over buying a ticket here and there. If you’ve fallen in love with a theater’s season, consider this option.
Theater is accessible to the masses in the Circle City and is affordable for nearly any budget. Don’t let price scare you away from experiencing this vibrant art form.
