Curio Theatre Company To Open Doors To Community With Trial Ticket Initiative

West Philadelphia professional theatre, Curio Theatre Company, announced Saturday night that it will be testing CuriosiTix: PLAY It Forward, a new ticketing initiative, for its performances of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. CuriosiTix: PLAY It Forward will open Curio's doors in a more radically inclusive way to the community and remove financial barriers to theatre attendance. Tickets and more information can be found on Curio's website www.curiotheatre.org

Curio's mission is to serve West Philadelphia and beyond with high quality, affordable theatre. The company already offers affordable tickets that are comparable to other companies in the area, but recognizes that there are people who have been shut out of the theatre due to financial constraints.Following the lead of other theatres that have introduced inclusive ticketing strategies, Curio wanted to look at ways to provide quality theatre programming at a fraction of a cost to the community. With CuriosiTix: PLAY It Forward, Curio hopes to welcome new audience members that may have shied away from theatre previously due to financial constraints thereby creating a patron base that represents the evolving neighborhood of West Philadelphia.

A core value of Curio's education program is that we never turn any student away due to financial constraints. The Barrymore Award winning CuriousiTeens program has used this philosophy to offer theatre training to budding artists ages 12-18. Thanks to a one-time grant, Curio Theatre Company is applying this philosophy to the upcoming production of The Winter's Tale. With CuriosiTix: Play It Forward, the company is experimenting with carrying this philosophy it into its professional productions to remove financial barriers to the company's performances.

"Curio has always made it our mission to be inclusive to our community. Now, with CuriosiTix, we are making good on that promise and opening our doors as wide as possible to our productions," says Managing Director Gay Carducci, "This is an exciting experiment, and we hope to continue it for productions in future seasons."

Curio is thrilled to announce that its final mainstage show of the 2018-19 season will mark the first attempt at this brand new ticketing initiative. Written toward the end of William Shakespeare's career,The Winter's Tale is a story of folly, forgiveness and redemption. It begins when Leontes, King of Sicily, destroys his family and his oldest friendship in a fit of jealous rage that transforms him into a tyrant. What follows is a play unique among Shakespeare's work. The Winter's Tale is part tragedy, part comedy, and concludes with perhaps the most controversial ending ever penned by the Bard. Directed by Company Member Liz Carlson-Guerin, The Winter's Tale will run April 24-May 18. Opening Night is Saturday April 27.

Audience members are encouraged to go online or call the box office to make a reservation to performances as usual. Walk ups are welcome, but seating is limited - make sure to reserve your place ahead of time! Although not necessary when making your reservation, patrons have the option to give money towards their tickets when they reserve or when they get to the theatre. Audience members who would like to "play it forward" and pay towards a seat for their neighbor may do so, though it is not a requirement!

Curio Theatre Company's mission is to serve audiences in West Philadelphia and beyond with high quality, affordable theatre performances; to develop artistic talent through ensemble, company -based training and rehearsal processes; and to further academic, social, and personal development through arts education. The artistic and the educational arms of the theatre company are intertwined as we make our home in the diverse community of West Philadelphia. The company's Educational program was awarded the 2017 Victory Theatre Education Award at the Barrymore Awards Ceremony. It marked the company's first Barrymore Award. Curio Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 non-profit company based in West Philadelphia. The Company was founded by professional artists and administrators who met at the Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley, PA, and incorporated as a non-profit in 2004.". After touring locally and internationally for several years, the Company began a search for a permanent home. In January 2005, Curio Theatre Company joined in partnership with the Calvary Center for Culture and Community at 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia. This partnership provides Curio with a performance venue and classrooms within the Calvary Center as well as office space and company housing in the adjacent parish house. In return Curio is assisting the Calvary Center in creating a professional Performing Arts Venue in the heart of West Philadelphia.

To post a comment, you must register and login.