A theater habit can get pricey fast, so why spend upwards of $50 on a theater ticket when you can go to a movie for a fraction of that? Why, there is a special magic to live theater, of course! The pageantry of it, the immediacy, the intimacy, the experience of a show playing out right in front of you is absolutely enchanting. It is never exactly the same twice. There is no hiding behind a screen, no falsehoods; just real, raw talent.
It also makes for a perfect classic date night! An evening at the theater has a very different feel to it than a movie night with sticky seats n’ a bucket of popcorn, no?
Supporting the local arts is our duty after all, and luckily for us, St. Pete offers an array of fantastic options. Much lies in the gray area between the awesome-but-expensive Broadway national tours that make the rounds, and the community theater production of Annie that your sister’s best friend’s daughter guilted you into attending.
I suggest checking out the following three local, professional theater companies which produce an array of styles. There’s really something for everyone, and with the right planning you can score you a ticket to any show for under $30!
You are likely familiar with American Stage Theater, who puts on the grand musical productions in the park each spring, but have you attended any of their other shows? You’ve been missing out! The hubs and I saw their extraordinary production of the new sci-fi drama Marjorie Prime at their Raymond James Theater in Downtown, and cannot wait to see Bad Jews, opening on 7/11.
What’s the best way to save a buck at any theater? Attend previews! American Stage shows officially premier on Fridays, but Wednesdays and Thursdays just prior are the same experience at a discount. You are seeing exactly what Friday night audiences will see, but Wednesdays are pay-what-you-wish, and Thursdays are $29. Other showings range from $39-$49. Free ticket with an active military ID; student tickets are $20.
Speaking of young-uns, the under-thirty set can pay $15/month to score tix whenever they’d like, as well as perks like discounts on food n’ drinks.
FreeFall Theater is another great addition to the local scene, known for taking classic shows and giving them a twist. Pirates of Penzance (in space) and The Importance of Being Earnest (with zombies) both certainly kept me on my toes! I plan on scooping up a couple $25 tickets for the 6/22 and 6/23 previews of their next show, The Musical of Musicals. Standard ticket prices range from $47-50.
FreeFall also offers a program for theater-loving younger folks. For those under 40, $99 scores you a ticket to the first Thursday performance of each of the six productions in a season, and a social event before or after the show. That is one heck of a deal!
Last, but certainly not least, is the St. Petersburg Opera Company. Do not fear the opera, my friends! St. Pete Opera takes care to make their work easily digestible while still upholding the integrity of the shows – no small task. Many works, like their upcoming The Music Man (previews begin 6/14), are in English, but those like their recent The Magic Flute float seamlessly between the language of the original music and English dialogue, to ensure that the audience is not left behind.
Their productions call The Palladium home, and while tickets top out at $75 a pop, you can get a perfectly fine seat for a sweet $20. St. Pete Opera preview productions take place in different museums, galleries and cafes about town. Pretty neat idea, eh? $20 general tix, $17 senior, $10 student.
Now go forth and enjoy some local theatrical art! It truly is an experience like none other. Drink in Champagne culture on a beer budget, my friends, and revel in all this lovely city has to offer. You’ll be yelling “encore!”in no time.
