This season, Playwrights Horizons announced the creation of LIVEforFIVE, a ticketing initiative that makes available $5 tickets for the first preview performance of each Playwrights Horizons production via an online lottery.
Entries for the first preview of the theater company's next production, Doris to Darlene: A Cautionary Valentine, are now being accepted. Theatergoers can enter the lottery by filling out an entry form at the company's website at www.playwrightshorizons.org.
The LIVEforFIVE performance for Doris to Darlene: A Cautionary Valentine will be the first preview on Friday, November 16 at 8PM at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street). The World Premiere of a new play by Jordan Harrison and directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters, the production features de'Adre Aziza, David Chandler, Michael Crane, Laura Heisler, Tom Nelis and Tobias Segal. The production will have its official opening on Tuesday, December 11 at 7PM and continue through Sunday, December 23.
Complete details for the lottery are as follows: beginning Wednesday, November 7, theatergoers can enter the lottery by completing an electronic entry form accessible from the company's home page at www.playwrightshorizons.org. Entries will be accepted up until Monday, November 12 at Noon. Winners of the lottery will be notified by email by Noon on Tuesday, November 13 with instructions on how to book their $5 tickets. One or two tickets may be purchased for $5 each. At least 50 tickets will be available for the show via the lottery.
"Doris to Darlene: A Cautionary Valentine begins in the candy-colored 1960s, when a biracial schoolgirl named Doris (de'Adre Aziza) is molded into pop star Darlene by a whiz-kid record producer (Michael Crane) who culls a top-ten hit out of Richard Wagner's Liebestod. The play then rewinds to the candy-colored 1860s, where Wagner (David Chandler) is writing the melody that will become Darlene's hit song. We then fast-forward to the not-so-candy-colored present, where a teenager (Tobias Segal) obsesses over Darlene's music – and his music teacher (Tom Nelis). Three dissonant decades merge into an unlikely harmony in this time-jumping pop fairy tale about the dreams and disasters behind one transcendent song," explain press notes.
A play that deals with the nature of music and how it influences our lives, Doris to Darlene: A Cautionary Valentine will feature two songs with music by Obie Award winner Kirsten Childs (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, which premiered at Playwrights Horizons), set to Mr. Harrison's lyrics.
Debuting with the 2007/2008 season, LIVEforFIVE is a new initiative as part of the theater company's Arts Access program, which allows the institution to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket. LIVEforFIVE replaced the former "Pay What You Can" initiative.
Reflecting Playwrights Horizons' ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, the theater company will continue to offer HOTtix, $20 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase. The company will also continue to offer STUDENT RUSH $15 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before curtain to full-time graduate and undergraduate students. One ticket per person, per purchase. Valid student ID required.
LIVEforFIVE, HOTtix, and STUDENT RUSH are just a few of Playwrights Horizons' popular Arts Access initiatives, which allow the theater company to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket.
For subscription and ticket information to all Playwrights Horizons productions, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, Noon to 8 pm daily, or purchase online at the Playwrights Horizons website at www.playwrightshorizons.org
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