Theater Project to Offer Pay-What-You-Can Performance of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, 10/3

To make sure that no one is kept from live professional theater by rising ticket prices, The Theater Project at the Burgdorff Center in Maplewood is offering a special performance at 8 PM, Thursday, October 3, when patrons will pay whatever they choose for admission.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES runs September 26 - October 13, but the October 3 performance has been set aside as PAY WHAT YOU CAN night. The parody of Conan Doyle's famous detective novel is by Steve Canny and John Nicholson.

"We don't want people to miss the show or miss introducing their kids to live professional theater because of the prices," says associate producer Daaimah Talley, "Like many theaters, our costs are rising, grants and donations are shrinking, and we have had to raise prices -slightly. Times are rough all around, but our goal is to make theater accessible for everyone."

"It is heart-breaking to go to New York and pay almost $100 for a half-price ticket," says artistic director Mark Spina. "Those prices send a message that theater is something most of us can only do once or twice a year if we are lucky. We want live theater to be a regular part of people's lives, not a financial sacrifice."

The Theater Project also offers discounts for groups and early ticket purchase, but the PAY WHAT YOU CAN performance is geared to individuals and families. The Theater Project hopes that people who have limited or no experience of the local professional theater scene will be able to sample it through this program

Tickets for this performance are available on a first come, first served basis starting at 7 PM, Oct 3 at the theater box office. No advanced reservations are accepted for PAY WHAT YOU CAN night.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES will run September 26 - October 13 at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Rd, Maplewood, NJ. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM. There is a talk back with actors after each Friday night performance, and the actors greet the audience in the lobby after every show. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for students. They may be purchased online at thetheaterproject.org or by phone at 973 763-4029.

The Theater Project, www.thetheaterproject.org, is known for presenting outrageous comedy as well as drama with social commentary. Last November, the company tackled marriage equality, presenting a one-night-only reading of "8" by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. The fall 2013 production, a satiric take on THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, runs September 26 - October 13 at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, Maplewood. After School Classes in Juggling, Puppetry, Music Theater and Improv also begin in September.

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