Culture is a competitive business.
Just like cinemas and restaurants, theater groups and symphony orchestras can’t simply wait around for their audience to find them. In Maine, several are offering free tickets and new discount programs, often targeting adults under 35.
The Portland Symphony Orchestra, for example, is offering free chamber music performances at three Maine breweries in October. Ogunquit Playhouse offers a free ticket to Maine residents 30 or under, who are coming to their first show there.
“We really wanted to find a way to meet people where they are, and holding free concerts at breweries felt like the perfect way to give people a chance to experience the PSO in a more casual environment,” said Allison Page, director of communications for the symphony.
With the theater and symphony season about to heat up in September and summer theaters still open, here’s a look at some of the places offering free tickets or special pricing programs that go beyond standard student and senior discounts.
Good Theater
63 Stevens Ave., Portland. goodtheater.com
This Portland theater offers $10 tickets for anybody 30 or under. They also have same-day rush tickets for $10. At least six rush tickets are made available for each show, starting two hours before, online and at the door.
Mad Horse Theatre Company
24 Mosher St., South Portland. madhorse.com
The Mad Horse Theatre Company’s entire season, which started Oct. 1 with “Eureka Day” by Jonathan Spector, is “pay what you decide.” People can show up on the day of the performance and try their luck or reserve a seat for a $5 processing fee. After you see the show, management asks that you make a payment as you leave. The theater started the PWYD policy during the pandemic for virtual programming, and continued it for live shows when it reopened.
Maine State Music Theater
22 Elm St., Brunswick. msmt.org
On the first Friday of every new show, the theater offers unsold tickets for $30 cash or $40 with a card, at the box office. Shows at MSMT have an everage ticket price of $117. People can start buying those tickets at 10 a.m. The last show of this season, “Come From Away,” opens Wednesday.
Ogunquit Playhouse
10 Main St., Ogunquit. ogunquitplayhouse.org
For people under 30, the first show here is on the house. People who meet that age requirement can see their first show at the theater for free and subsequent tickets are $20. The offer is good to anyone under 30 who lives in Maine, Massachusetts or New Hampshire. The theater also has a Maine Resident Rush ticket, which is $40 for any remaining seats bought on show day at the box office or by phone. The theater’s season ends Nov. 1 and the last show is the world premiere of the John Mellencamp musical “Small Town.” Tickets for the first performance are $40 to $180.
Portland Stage
25 Forest Ave., Portland. portlandstage.org
Portland Stage gives out free passes to every performance on its main stage, through the Portland Public Library. Library patrons can request a pass, good for two people, and then pick it up at the library or any of its branches. Each location offers one pass per performance. The passes must be presented at the Portland Stage box office between noon and showtime to claim the tickets. Portland Stage’s first production this season will be “Arcadia” by Tom Stoppard, running Sept. 30-Oct. 25. Tickets are $30-$77.
Portland Stage also has a Rush35 membership, for anyone 18-35. After signing up for the free membership, people can buy tickets for $20.
Portland Symphony Orchestra
400 Congress St., Suite A, Portland. porttix.com
The PSO will be offering free chamber music concerts in October at three Maine breweries or brewpubs, in an effort to reach new audiences. The PSO Chamber Brass & Brews performances will be Oct. 1 at Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford, Oct. 2 at Goodfire Tasting Room & Kitchen in Freeport, and Oct. 3 at Foundation Brewing in Portland. The free shows are about two hours. People can RSVP for tickets to the shows online at portix.com.
Public Theater
31 Maple St., Lewiston. thepublictheatre.org
This Lewiston theater’s effort to make tickets more affordable to young adults is called 35 Below. People between 19-35 can sign up for a free memberhsip and then get tickets for $25, instead of the regular price of $42. People with the 35 Below membership can also get a season subscription for $100, instead of $160. The theater’s season opens with “Steel Magnolias,” running Oct. 23-Nov. 8.
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