LA JOLLA PLAYS AT OPEN PRICING

The La Jolla Playhouse will hold its first “Pay What You Can” series on June 6. Under this program, starting with Thornton Wilder’s comedy “The Matchmaker,” patrons will pay only what they can afford on the first Saturday matinee performance of each play’s opening week. All seats are general admission and none may be reserved.

The program is an effort to draw theatergoers who might not be able to afford the usual matinee price of $18, said Playhouse spokesman Bruce Campbell.

“The ‘Pay What You Can’ performance is one way of returning to the community the support it has shown us throughout our past four seasons,” said artistic director Des McAnuff. “Theater exists, by nature, only through the enthusiastic participation of the audience, and we hope our small gesture of open pricing gives families, students, seniors and others on a fixed income the opportunity to see our work.”

Other plays in the “Pay What You Can” series are “Hedda Gabler,” July 11; “A Walk in the Woods,” July 25; “The School for Wives,” Aug. 22, and “The Tempest,” Sept. 5. Curtain time is at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the series may be purchased at the Playhouse one week before each play begins.