On with the show! Ways students save at Lincoln theaters
There’s nothing quite like going to the theater. That moment of anticipation when the lights above the audience dim and the stage becomes bright, when hushed whispers are replaced by opening music.
Yet, on a student budget, going out can be financially difficult. Many times an evening at the theater means putting a strain on your wallet. Luckily, Lincoln offers ways for you to enjoy the stage without sacrificing too much.
Nebraska Wesleyan University, a liberal arts university, regularly puts on productions during the school year at the McDonald Theatre and the Miller Theatre.
Wesleyan’s theaters offer student discounts on their musicals, plays and cabarets. While adult tickets are $17.50 for musicals and $10.00 for plays, students can buy their tickets for $10.00 for musicals and $7.50 for plays.
More than 40 productions are presented by the theaters each year, ranging from Shakespeare’s unforgettable classics to Broadway’s modern hits. Notable upcoming performances for their 2016-2017 season include “Into the Woods”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Lion in Winter” and “A Christmas Carol”.
Wesleyan’s theaters are at 51st and Huntington Ave. Tickets can be purchased from their box office (402.465.2384) between 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday or on their website at www.nebrwesleyan.edu/theatre-tickets.
The Lincoln Community Playhouse is another theater offering plays at an affordable price. Located on 2500 S. 56th St., their discounted student tickets cost about $15.
The Lincoln Community Playhouse’s 2016-2017 season offers a variety of upcoming performances including “Ragtime,” “The Boxcar Children,” and “Exit Laughing.”
Tickets can be purchased from their box office (402.489.7529) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays) and one hour before scheduled curtain on weekends. Tickets can also be purchased from their website at www.lincolnplayhouse.com.
Junior music education major and music club officer, Renae Cross, suggests that students wanting to see live shows should also check if downtown theaters offer University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) discounts because sometimes they’ll offer them to Union students as well.
“Always check to see if the theater has a student discount,” Renae says. She also encourages students to join the music club which offers discounted and sometimes free tickets to shows in Lincoln and Omaha.
Don’t let distance and money keep you from seeing live shows in Lincoln. Take advantage of the discounted tickets theaters offer, grab some of your friends and enjoy the show!
Amanda McCarter is a sophomore studying biomedical science