Bucks County Playhouse hopes to fill seats, make theater more affordable. Here's how

When Adele Adkins came on as managing director of the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope last June, she wanted to focus growing audience.

So, she started asking, “How do we get more people in seats?”

It’s a problem all theaters — from community nonprofits to Broadway — continue to tackle, said Adkins. COVID-19 brought live performances to a standstill until theaters reopened in the fall of 2021.

“A number of people really got comfortable being home a lot, and now we have all these streaming platforms, and the couch has become our big competitor,” Adkins said.

And with rising ticket prices over the years, she added, going to the theater has become less affordable for many people. Just last year, the average ticket price for mainstage productions was $65, with some going for as high as $90 per ticket.

“We have budget goals, but how could we go about providing access to the wonderful work the directors do here when our price point for most people is too high,” she said.

For months, Adkins and her team turned their attention to creating more affordable options, while allowing the nonprofit to stay within its budget.

To better fill the 425-seat theater this season, the Playhouse rolled out a three-tiered pricing structure for single show ticket purchases, enhancements to its subscription pricing and school-day matinees.

Live entertainment in Bucks County: Rosetta's Jazz Cafe is a vibe on this Morrisville corner. Step inside

“Quality theater should be for everyone,” said Adkins. “We believe it is important to remove the barriers for those who feel they cannot afford to come to the Playhouse."

These changes for the 2023 season are only the beginning.

“This is the Playhouse’s first step in structuring our pricing model in a different way with the hopes of being more accessible to a wider group of people. And it’s a conversation we’re continuing to have on how to build on that in 2024,” Adkins said.

How did the Bucks County Playhouse make tickets more affordable?

Prior to the 2023 season, the cost of a ticket was the same no matter which seat you chose.

Now pricing depends on the seat, allowing theatergoers to pay as little as $39 for mainstage shows. Performances within its Visiting Artist series can run as low as $35, depending on its popularity.

Another way to save, is to look for youth pricing offered for select family-friendly programs, like the upcoming “Mutts Gone Nuts!" with $20 tickets for kids under 12.

More in New Hope: With The Cub Room's return, is New Hope's gay bar scene coming back?

Savings on Bucks County Playhouse subscription packages

Book a subscription package by April 30 and receive discount. The package includes four mainstage shows for the early bird price of $208. And in an effort to attract a younger audience, the Playhouse is offering an even lower early bird discount of $152 for anyone under 40.

If you’d like to exchange your tickets for another matinee, weekend or weekday evening performance, there is no longer additional fees.

Local students can enjoy the theater arts through school-day matinees

Starting last summer with Evita, the Playhouse began working with area schools to offer school-day matinee programs at a discounted price. During these performances, study guides are provided, and students have the chance to talk with performers after the show.

Adkins said the program is one way the nonprofit is able to further its mission to “support, inspire and celebrate the performing arts.”

“In a perfect world there should be no barriers, for youth especially, to experience art and theater,” Adkins said.

What’s on stage at the Bucks County Playhouse this season?

• A Day in the Life: A Beatles Experience April 14 and 15

• Mutts Gone Nuts! May 5 and 6

• Word of Mouth: Busted May 13

• Ray Didinger's Tommy and Me May 19 - June 17

• Tick, Tick… Boom! June 23 – July 15

• ALiEN8 July 27 – July 30

• The Bridges of Madison County August 11 – September 10

• The Rocky Horror Show October 13 – October 28

• Irving Berlin’s White Christmas November 17 – December 31

Subscription packages and tickets for the 2023 season may be purchased at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at 215-862-2121.

Musical theater scene: 80th anniversary of 'Oklahoma' on Broadway celebrated at Hammerstein farm, Central Bucks East

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Playhouse rolls out new pricing structure for 2023 season