Theaters offer prime seats to Pitt students

Ordinarily, tickets in section B for the Pittsburgh Opera would cost about $100.75. Through Pitt… Ordinarily, tickets in section B for the Pittsburgh Opera would cost about $100.75. Through Pitt Arts’ Cheap Seats program, a student can buy those same tickets for $33.

“I’m constantly negotiating so that everyone gets a really good deal here at Pitt through the Cheap Seats program,” said Annabelle Clippinger, director of Pitt Arts.

Tomorrow, at the annual “Attack of the Cheap Seats,” held in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room from noon to 2 p.m., students have the option of purchasing discounted tickets for entire seasons while enjoying a free lunch. Students can also purchase these tickets by stopping by the Pitt Arts office in 316 William Pitt Union.

Normally, when students buy tickets, they are given the best available seats in the section they’ve chosen. New this year, and only during Attack of the Cheap Seats, students can choose their section and seat ahead of time. One of the big benefits of this deal is that students, as some of the first ticket buyers, will have access to the best seats in the house.

“My theater is great because I don’t have a student section … you could be in the front row if I have it available,” said Becky Rickard, group sales and audience development manager for the Pittsburgh Public Theater.

This year, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Pittsburgh Opera will all be present, giving students the opportunity to buy some of the very best tickets they have to offer.

“They can actually watch the diva sweat when she’s singing or they can listen to the pointe shoes [of the ballet dancers on the stage],” Clippinger said.

It’s obvious how students can greatly benefit from the program.

“I think the great thing about the Cheap Seats program is that the tickets that we’re selling are at a discounted rate and [students] get to come and experience something that adults experience for much more expensive tickets,” Rickard said.

But one might wonder how selling such inexpensive tickets to students benefits the arts organizaions.

“Once [students] get out of Pitt, they’re hooked. It develops an arts patronage and a habit of attending the arts,” Clippinger said.

She explained that the Pitt Arts program exposes students to the wonders of the arts around them, giving them a more colorful view of the Pittsburgh scene than they would get just hanging around campus. Once they develop the habit, students continue to support the arts well after graduation, when they have more expendable funds to put toward tickets, Clippinger said.

In addition, the students’ youthful presence brings new life to theatrical performances that other audience members and arts participants both appreciate.

“It’s great to see younger people enjoying culture and enjoying a live performance. Our actors can see when there are younger people in the audience,” Rickard said, continuing on to explain that older audience members often comment delightedly about seeing young, fresh faces.