Geffen Playhouse counts -- and discounts -- on its stars
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‘Unabashedly Irresistible Theater’ is the slogan on the Geffen Playhouse’s 2009-10 season brochure, but for a lucky, bargain-hunting few the motto could be ‘Big Names for Little Money.’
Coming off a season of economic hardships in which it was forced to put out an emergency $1-million fund-raising plea and rent out its second stage instead of producing self-generated shows there, the Geffen has lined up at least three star vehicles in a five-show season, starting next week with ‘Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas,’ a satire on celebrities hawking causes in which the lead actor’s name is not above the title, but in it. Later on, Annette Bening plays a celebrated feminist author in ‘The Female of the Species’ and Laurence Fishburne performs his solo turn as civil rights great/Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in ‘Thurgood.’
Subscription seats for all this unabashed irresistibility run $205 to $380, depending on whether you want to be in the orchestra on a weekend night after the show officially opens, or in the back for a preview.
But for bargain-hunters who pounced on an unprecedented limited offer that sold out within a matter of days via Goldstar’s ticket-discounting website, the cost of a season subscription was $98, including service fee. The caveat: The 287 available seats were in the back of the 522-capacity house, and were only available for previews. The reasoning: Geffen leaders say they want as many seats filled as possible for the previews in hopes of generating a maximum buzz before the shows formally open.
Click here for the full story on the economic challenges that have prompted the Geffen to go all Crazy Eddie.
As for any disappointed cost-conscious theater-lovers who missed out on the deal, note that Center Theatre Group recently began selling five-play, previews-only subscriptions to its 2010 season at the Mark Taper Forum for as little as $99. See? Recessions aren’t all bad.
-- Mike Boehm
