For 2023, a North Texas theater will be trying out a new type of pricing model, allowing patrons to set their own prices. Amphibian Stage, located in Fort Worth, will let audience members pay between $10 and $60 for tickets.
There will no longer be discounted Thursdays with the new pricing model, and the model is broken down into four programming groups. These groups are Main Stage General Admission, Stand-Up Comic Residency General Admission, National Theatre Live General Admission, and SparkFest General Admission.
Each programming group will offer tickets at multiple price points. Main Stage tickets will cost $15, $25, $40, or $60. Stand-Up tickets will be $15, $22, or $30. National Theatre tickets will cost $10, $15, $20, or $25. Tickets for SparkFest admission will also be $10, $15, $20, or $25.
Jay Duffer, the co-artistic director of Amphibian Stage, told Dallas Culture Map that lowering ticket prices will allow more North Texans to enjoy performances.
“The Low-Cost ticket is designed for those who don’t have the financial freedom at that moment to commit to a Standard or Discounted ticket,” Duffer said.
“The Discounted ticket is a bridge between the Low-Cost and Standard offer. The Pay-It-Forward Ticket is priced above the Standard ticket, for those who may have the means to pay a little extra to help us offset the difference of the Low-Cost and Discounted tickets.
“It is not our intent to judge or police a patron’s ticket level choice. We know our patrons will choose the level that is right for them. We’re just excited to bring more people in the door by lowering the barrier.”
Opening weekend pricing and pay-what-you-want previews will still be implemented, according to Dallas Culture Map.
The new pricing model is meant to make the theater an accessible experience for any kind of budget, according to artistic director Kathleen Culebro. Culebro added that some events from Amphibian Stage are completely free.
“Some of my favorite projects at Amphibian Stage have been offered entirely for free. These include the short film This is My Story and the newly released augmented reality art walk Neighborhood Leap,” Culebro told Dallas Culture Map.
“These projects, like our arts outreach initiatives, are accessible to all — even those who might not have the means to buy a full-price ticket to one of our traditional offerings. This new pricing model is our way of breaking down barriers to live theater and taking steps to welcome all. Money should not prevent anyone from enjoying the healing effects of the arts.”
Upcoming Main Stage shows from Amphibian Stage, according to the theater’s website, will be Spaceman, Baba, Miss Molly, and The Visit. Stand-up comics coming to the Amphibian in 2023 are Baron Vaughn, Nore Davis, Phoebe Robinson, and Gabe Mollica.
National live shows featured in 2023 will be The Seagull, The Crucible, and Othello.
Memberships are also available to Amphibian Stage, and each level features a different number of shows. Membership levels range from $100 to $10,000. The $100 level includes one ticket for each of the four programming groups, and the $10,000 level includes six tickets for each of the four programming groups.