Groups offer $10 Tickets for Performances

With the economy in recession, local performing arts groups have decided to offer a discounted tickets for the remainder of the arts season. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer reports.Last month, many of the city’s largest performing arts organizations began discussing how to fill more seats when the economy means many people have less disposable income. Today, seven arts groups announced they will make a limited number of $10 tickets available on the day of 70 performances scheduled for this season.The Kentucky Center is offering $10 tickets for 10 of its performances. Stephen Klein is Center’s president."If it actually gets people in to see the shows, if it can create more of an audience for them, that could mean future ticket sales, future contributed dollars, more of a bonding with the arts institutions," Klein says.The Louisville Ballet, Stage One and PNC Broadway Across America are participating, but more than 40 performances are from the schedules of Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Louisville Orchestra.Jennifer Bielstein is the managing director at Actors Theatre."Even if people cannot afford to pay right now what it really costs us to produce a piece of performing art, we still want them to be able to come to the theater and be here long term when things look better for everybody," Bielstein says.Brad Broeker is the orchestra’s CEO. He says the program will make the orchestra affordable to anyone new to classical music or other art forms. He says it could even continue into next year."If the public reacts to it in a very positive way and lots of folks come out, it ought to be something we would consider for next year in some form or fashion," Broeker says.Since the economy sank into recession, arts groups across the country have faced ticket sales and are looking to retain their audiences.LIST OF PERFORMANCESJANUARY 8The Louisville Orchestra, A Tribute to Oscar6:30 p.m.,Brown TheatreJANUARY 9Actors Theatre of Louisville, Match Games8 p.m., Bingham TheatreThe Louisville Orchestra, Chase Pops SeriesABBAmania8 p.m.,Louisville PalaceJANUARY 10The Louisville Orchestra, A Tribute to Oscar7:30 p.m., Ogle Center, IUSJANUARY 16The Louisville Orchestra, Hilliard Lyons Classics SeriesMozart Symphony No. 358 p.m., Brown TheatreJANUARY 17The Louisville Orchestra, Hilliard Lyons Classics SeriesMozart Symphony No. 358 p.m., Brown TheatreJANUARY 24The Louisville Orchestra, Yum! orKIDStra SeriesBe Spotted11 a.m., Brown TheatreJANUARY 31Stage One,Brothers of a Common Country: A Story of Abraham Lincoln5 p.m., Bomhard TheaterKentucky Center Presents, Tango Fire8 p.m., Brown TheatreThe Louisville Orchestra, Chase Pops SeriesAir Supply8 p.m., Louisville PalaceFEBRUARY 7Stage One, Brothers of a Common Country: A Story of Abraham Lincoln5 p.m., Bomhard TheaterThe Louisville Orchestra, Hilliard Lyons Classics SeriesNeruda Songs8 p.m., Whitney HallFEBRUARY 13Louisville Ballet, Hilliard Lyons Cinderella8 p.m., Whitney HallFEBRUARY 14Louisville Ballet, Hilliard Lyons Cinderella8 p.m., Whitney HallThe Louisville Orchestra, Chase Pops SeriesJack Jones8 p.m., Louisville PalaceFEBRUARY 19The Louisville Orchestra, Violins and VoodooHardscuffle, Inc., Coffee Classics Series10:30 a.m., Whitney HallFEBRUARY 20The Louisville Orchestra, Violins and VoodooHilliard Lyons Classics Series8 p.m., Whitney HallKentucky Center Presents, Annual Mardi Gras Party with Feufollet and Lil’ Nathan8 p.m., Bomhard TheaterFEBRUARY 25Kentucky Center Presents, The Pink Floyd Experience7:30 p.m., Whitney HallFEBRUARY 28The Louisville Orchestra, Yum! orKIDStra SeriesThe Listener with Magic Circle Mime11 a.m., Brown TheatreMARCH 1Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville (preview)7 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 3PNC Broadway Across America, Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy7:30 p.m., Whitney HallActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville (preview)7:30 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 4PNC Broadway Across America, Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy7:30 p.m., Whitney HallActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville (opening)7:30 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 5The Louisville Orchestra, A Bernstein Salute6:30 p.m., Brown TheatrePNC Broadway Across America, Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy7:30 p.m., Whitney HallMARCH 6Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Slasher (preview)7:30 p.m., Bingham TheatreKentucky Center Presents, Joe Bonamassa8 p.m., Bomhard TheaterMARCH 7Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Slasher (preview)5 p.m., Bingham TheatreThe Louisville Orchestra, A Bernstein Salute7:30 p.m., Ogle Center, IUSAlltech Festival presents Mark Morris Dance Group with the MMDG Music Ensemble8 p.m., Brown TheatreActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville9 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 8Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Slasher (opening)2:30 p.m., Bingham TheatrePNC Broadway Across America, Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy6:30 p.m., Whitney HallActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville7 p.m., Bingham TheatreLEO Presents A Little Off Center, Reduced Shakespeare Company: Completely Hollywood (abridged)7 p.m., Bomhard TheaterMARCH 10Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom (preview)7:30 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville7 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 11Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom (preview)7:30 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Slasher7:30 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 12Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom (opening)7:30 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Ameriville7:30 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 13Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom8 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumLEO Presents A Little Off Center The Very Worst of Varla Jean Merman8 p.m., Bomhard TheaterMARCH 14Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom2:30 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, The Hard Weather Boating Party (preview)5 p.m., Bingham TheatreActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom8 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Slasher9 p.m., Bingham TheatreMARCH 15Actors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom2:30 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, The Hard Weather Boating Party (preview)7 p.m., Bingham TheatreActors Theatre of LouisvilleHumana Festival of New American Plays, Absalom7:30 p.m., Pamela Brown AuditoriumMARCH 21Kentucky Opera and The Louisville Orchestra, Iolanta8 p.m., Whitney HallMARCH 26The Louisville Orchestra, Enchantment with Orchestra Hardscuffle, Inc., Coffee Classics Series10:30 a.m., Whitney HallMARCH 27The Louisville Orchestra, Enchantment with Orchestra, Hilliard Lyons Classics Series8 p.m., Whitney HallMARCH 28Stage One, Go, Dog, Go!2 p.m., Bomhard TheaterStage One, Go, Dog, Go!5 p.m., Bomhard TheaterMARCH 31LEO Presents A Little Off Center, One Night of Queen performed by Garry Mullen and The Works7:30 p.m., Brown TheatreAPRIL 3Stage One, Go, Dog, Go!2 p.m., Bomhard TheaterLouisville Ballet, ReVive’s Rite of Spring8 p.m., Whitney HallAPRIL 4Louisville Ballet, ReVive’s Rite of Spring2 p.m., Whitney HallStage One, Go, Dog, Go!2 p.m., Bomhard TheaterStage One, Go, Dog, Go!5 p.m., Bomhard TheaterLouisville Ballet, ReVive’s Rite of Spring8 p.m., Whitney HallAPRIL 9The Louisville Orchestra, Shostakovich 6, Hardscuffle, Inc., Coffee Classics Series10:30 a.m., Whitney HallThe Louisville Orchestra, Shostakovich 6, Hilliard Lyons Classics Series8 p.m., Whitney HallAPRIL 23The Louisville Orchestra, Symphonie Fantastique, Hardscuffle, Inc., Coffee Classics Series10:30 a.m., Whitney HallAPRIL 25The Louisville Orchestra, Symphonie Fantastique, Hilliard Lyons Classics Series8 p.m., Whitney HallMAY 19Brown-Forman Midnite Ramble, Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theatre7:30 p.m., Whitney HallMAY 20Brown-Forman Midnite Ramble, Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theatre7:30 p.m., Whitney Hall