The Theater, The Theater, What’s Happened To The Theater?

Nothing, really.  It’s still there, and cheaper than ever.

Tip Of The Day:  Jonesing for some jazz hands, but you don’t have the dough?  If the theater is calling to you, but you’re worried you don’t have the money to answer, never fear.  The TC is loaded with inexpensive community theaters, ready to bring your Broadway dreams to life.

Tip For Tomorrow:  According to consumer economists (aka, people who know more than I do), we all eat at home more during a recession.  To which I say, DUR, and also – just because you’re eating at home doesn’t mean you can’t try new and exciting foods.  Tune in tomorrow for tips on tasty cheap eats.

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal:   I just adore the theater (almost as much as a penthouse view), which should come as no surprise to you, seeing as how my dad is a theater professor and started the Contemporary Theater Program at Syracuse University.  Sorry, had to brag on the family there for a moment.  Moving on.

But no matter how much I love the theater, I’ve never cared for the ticket price tag.  You want to charge me how much to see cats singing at the moon?  People on roller skates?  A bunch of fairies – literally, did you SEE the ticket prices for Midsummer’s Night Dream?  Ouch.  Even with the joys of rush seating, theater tickets remain a huge indulgence.

However, going to the theater can be less of a splurge and more of a monthly occurence if you look beyond the big theaters lights and into the suburbs.  Namely, the suburbs that hold community theaters, like the following four:

1.  For the folks on the north side of town, check out the Lyric Arts Company in Anoka, the only year-round theater in the northern metro area.

Tickets are just $18 for musicals and holiday shows and $16 for all other productions.  They also offer a $2 discount for seniors and students.

Lyric Arts is currently running their production of Ghost Chasers – which stands to reason, seeing as Anoka, MN is the Halloween Capitol Of The WORLD.  No seriously, it is.  For more information, go to lyricarts.org.

2.  To the east, we have the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake, now celebrating their 56^th season.  Tickets for most shows are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students.

They also have an AMAZING deal – something they call Pay What You Can Sundays.  The first Sunday of each production, Lakeshore offers general admission tickets where the patrons decide the price. Tickets are only available at the box office one hour prior to show time, and seating is subject to availability.

To buy tickets and to check out their production calendar, log on to lakeshoreplayers.com.

3.  And to the west is the Hopkin’s Stages Theater Company.  It’s not actually a community theater – it’s a professional children’s theater – but their tickets sell for low community theater prices.  They’re just $15 for adults and $11 for seniors and kids 17 years and under.

Stages Theater’s next production is their holiday show, Peef, The Christmas Bear, starting November 21^st.  They also offer acting workshops and programs for kids ages 9 to 17, if your kids get bit by the theater bug.  Granted, their classes aren’t cheap, but neither are most kid’s activities.

For more information about their classes and productions, check out their web site at stagestheater.org.

4.  Bonus Theater – Not Seen On TV.  In Maplewood, be sure to check out the Heritage Theatre Company.  Tickets are just $15 for regular, $13 for seniors and students, and $9 for kids 12 and under.  Be forewarned, they do NOT accept credit or debit cards, so have your cash or checks handy.

Right now they’re showing The Fantasticks, and in December their holiday show, Once Upon A Holiday, begins.

For ticket sales and other theatre information, go to heritagetc.com.

Question Of The Day:  What is your favorite musical, either seen the live production or the movie version?