Playwrights Horizons Announces Plans to Offer Tickets Via Facebook

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) proudly announces the launch of AVTiki, an innovative online sales channel that will give theater patrons the ability to purchase tickets without leaving Facebook. The theater company becomes the very first in New York to offer ticket sales - with the added option to make additional reservations for friends - through this unique distribution channel for social ticketing.

Created by the Canadian-based company AudienceView, AVTiki is the world's first and only fully-integrated Facebook ticketing and reservation service. It leverages the tremendous potential of social media commerce in that Facebook users never have to leave the Facebook network to complete their transactions.

Beginning Wednesday, February 6 at 12 Noon, to use AVTiki, patrons visit the Playwrights Horizons Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/PlaywrightsHorizons. After liking the page, they can move seamlessly from the online community to the ticketing environment and complete a purchase without ever leaving Facebook. The technology's unique 'buy and reserve' functionality also allows families, friends and fans to book seats together without one person having to pay for the entire block of tickets. Patrons can buy seats for themselves and reserve additional, adjacent seats (held for 4 hours) all in one secure transaction. There is a 4 ticket limit per order (total of purchased and reserved seats).

AVTiki launches with sales for THE FLICK, the eagerly-awaited World Premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Annie Baker, directed by Obie Award winner Sam Gold. Currently in rehearsals, the production will begin previews next Friday, February 15. With an opening night set for Tuesday, March 12, the limited engagement will run through March 31 at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

In honor of the launch, Playwrights Horizons is offering two special deals for theater patrons buying tickets through AVTiki: those who purchase within the first 48 hours will have access to $30 tickets (regularly $70, pending availability). After the 48 hours, starting Friday, February 8 at 12 Noon, and for a limited time, theater patrons can take advantage of a special limited-time offer of $40 tickets. There are no fees with either offer.

Playwrights Horizons has been a client of AudienceView since 2010, using the company's integrated, CRM-based ticketing and e-commerce platform to power Ticket Central, the official ticketing operation of Playwrights Horizons.

AVTiki was introduced into the marketplace in October 2011 through a partnership with The Ticket Factory, the ticketing division of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, England. AVTiki was subsequently successfully launched with partner organizations in Asia and North America as part of a staged roll-out strategy, with Mirvish Productions in Toronto being the first theater group in October 2012.

AVTiki extends beyond theater admissions and can be leveraged for any type of event - from college athletics, professional sports and regional ticketing to film festivals, arena shows and more. The service is system agnostic and can be used by any organization on a year-round or an event-by-event basis. Other organizations currently leveraging AVTiki include The Ticket Factory, TicketKing (Mirvish Theatres), Canadian Stage, Emerson College - Arts Emerson, Washington Pavilion, University of Minnesota Athletics and TicketWorld

Following THE FLICK, Playwrights Horizons' 2012/2013 season will continue with THE CALL, the World Premiere of a new play by Tanya Barfield, directed by Obie Award winner Leigh Silverman in a co-production with Primary Stages; and FAR FROM HEAVEN, the World Premiere of a new musical featuring a book by Tony Award winner & two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Greenberg, music by Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel, lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie and directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, featuring four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara. The musical is based on the Focus Features / Vulcan Productions motion picture Far From Heaven, written and directed by Todd Haynes.

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