19 Theater Deals to be Offered Throughout Philadelphia this Fall

The curtain will rise on the 2015 performing arts season in Philadelphia soon, and budget-conscious theater and music lovers have reason to rejoice thanks to the many low-cost tickets options available to them. The award-winning Wilma Theatre introduces its new WynTix program, which offers tickets to all productions for just $25 each. At the Curtis Institute of Music, up-and-coming classical music stars deliver free performances three nights a week. And each Thursday, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance continues to send out its popular FunSavers email, loaded with half-price tickets for the coming week's shows and exhibitions.

Here are some money-saving suggestions that will have arts lovers saying bravo:

Theatrical Performances:

1. Theater fans enjoy the best of Broadway at Broad Street prices thanks to the Broadway Philadelphia series at the Academy of Music, Merriam Theatre and Forrest Theatre. Patrons who line up at the venue box office two hours before show time can score Community Rush tickets for only $30 (cash only). Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Streets; Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street; Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad Street, (215) 731-3333, kimmelcenter.org

2. The next generation of opera stars train at the renowned Academy of Vocal Arts, and fans are invited to watch as the performers put the finishing touches on upcoming productions. During these free previews, the resident artists perform selected pieces from the opera and the maestro provides the audience with background information about the composer, stage production, history, setting and time period. 1920 Spruce Street, (215) 735-1685, avaopera.com

3. Before each main stage performance officially debuts, the Arden Theatre Company fulfills its commitment to making theater accessible to diverse audiences by opening the final dress rehearsal to the public. Attendees pay what they can to see the full cast, full costumes and full scenery at this sneak preview with proceeds benefiting a Philadelphia non-profit. For regular performances, students with ID pay $10 cash for available seats 30 minutes before the show begins. 40 N. 2nd Street, (215) 922-1122, ardentheatre.org

4. Every seatat the Bristol Riverfront Theatre mainstage productions is a good one, even those starting as low as $31. The professional theater has won numerous awards for new plays developed in house, as well as its productions of musicals and well-known works. 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, (215) 785-0100, brtstage.org

5. Culture vultures on a budget catch InterAct Theatre Company's thought-provoking shows at a discounted price of $20 for preview performances scheduled before the official opening night. 2030 Sansom Street, (215) 568-8079, interacttheatre.org

6. Media Theatre charges just $42 for seats to fully staged professional musical theater productions. But there are even bigger savings on Wednesday and Thursday evenings when theatergoers line up an hour before show time for $30 rush tickets to any of its Broadway Series Productions.104 E. State Street, Media, (610) 891-0100, mediatheatre.org

7. Opera Philadelphia hits the high notes with tickets that start as low as $19 for performances at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and $25 for performances at the Academy of Music. There are even more savings for students with valid IDs. They line up at the box office two hours before curtain time at either location and save 50% off any seat or $10 off amphitheater tickets at the Academy or second balcony tickets at the Kimmel Center. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Streets; Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Streets, (215) 893-1018,operaphila.org

8. Known for its high-quality professional productions, People's Light and Theatre Company gives audiences several low-cost ways to enjoy its eclectic mix of offerings. As part of its Access Nights programs, half-price tickets are available for some productions and performances. Budget-conscious theater fans await the Wednesday and Thursday evening Community Nights when preview tickets are only $26. And students bring their IDs to the box office one hour before curtain to purchase $5 day-of-show tickets. 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, (610) 644-3500, peopleslight.org

9. The Philadelphia Theatre Company gets a big bravo for its $25 Anytime Tickets-all shows, all times, in the last row of the mezzanine. Half-price tickets for seats throughout the theater are also available at the box office one to three hours before curtain on the day of any show. Students with ID get even bigger savings with $10 rush seats. Suzanne Roberts Theater, 480 S. Broad Street, (215) 985-0420, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org

10. At the start of the season, the Walnut Street Theatre offers a limited number of $20 Mezzanine seats for every mainstage performance. On performance day, select tickets are sold for half-price to the general public using the promotion codes found on the theater's website. Youth tickets (24 and under) are available for $20at the box office with valid ID. 825 Walnut Street, (215) 574-3550, walnutstreettheatre.org

11. Already a multi-award winning company, The Wilma Theater gets a standing "O" for its new Wilma WynTix program. For the next three years starting with the 2014-2015 season, all mainstage tickets for all days, times and seats will be only $25. High school and college students with an ID and theater artists who present proof of employment in the industry enjoy even bigger savings with $10 tickets. 265 S. Broad Street, (215) 546-7824, wilmatheater.org

Musical Musts:

12. Music lovers can scope out future stars at the Curtis Institute of Music, where students perform solo and chamber works most Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings during the school year, as well as many weekends, as part of the free Student Recital Series. 1726 Locust Street, (215) 893-5261, curtis.edu

13. Macy's in Center City offers the signature shopping experience customers expect, but it also provides visitors with a surprising musical treat-the sounds of its spectacular pipe organ. Debuting at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the organ was originally purchased by famous merchant John Wanamaker and enlarged by his store's own pipe organ shop to include 28,677 pipes. In the Grand Court of this National Historic Landmark building, visitors enjoy free 45-minute concerts twice daily except Sundays. 13th & Market Streets, (215) 241-9000, macys.com

14. With individual ticket prices that top out at $24 and full-season passes for a mere $30 for students age 35 and under, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society is a classical music lover's best friend. The international roster features some of the most renowned string quartets, pianists, vocalists, guitarists and woodwind artists. Various venues. (215) 569-8080, pcmsconcerts.org

15. Seeing (and hearing) ThePhiladelphia Orchestra for just $10 a ticket? It's possible. Arrive at the Kimmel Center box office between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. for evening performances and between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for matinees for the chance to score a $10 PECO Power Hour ticket. Tickets are limited to one per person. Budget-conscious students enjoy an unlimited number of performances with a $25 eZseatU subscription. And truly thrifty music-lovers can hear the renowned orchestra for free when they perform at various venues throughout the city as part of the Neighborhood Concert Series. Broad & Spruce Streets, (215) 893-1999, philorch.org

16. With a valid ID, students enjoy a Friday night subscription performance (except Christmas concerts) by the Philly Pops for only $10 per show. These discounted tickets are available at the box office on the day of the show. Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad & Spruce Streets, (215) 893-1999, phillypops.com

A Mixed Bag:

17. A mere $5 is what it takes to enjoy an evening of music, laughs and drag-queen drama at the Society Hill Playhouse. Hosted by the legendary Dinah B. Sore and the Corner Queens Cabaret, the Monday spectacle features a new crop of drag queens weekly in different productions that highlight a diverse range of styles and performances. 507 S. 8th Street, (215) 923-0210, societyhillplayhouse.org

18. Music mavens enjoy popular Sittin' In Jam sessions, mixing jazz with R&B, spoken word and more. These performances take place during the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts' Free at the Kimmel series, offered monthly throughout the year. In addition, $10 community rush tickets are available for Kimmel Center Presents performances at the Kimmel Center, Academy of Music and the Merriam Theater. Tickets are available at the box office beginning two hours prior to the start of the show. There is a one-ticket limit per person. Free building and theater tours, offered daily at 1:00 p.m., give visitors a behind-the-scenes look. 300 S. Broad Street, (215) 670-2327, kimmelcenter.org

19. The ultimate in one-stop shopping for cultural savings comes from the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's free Funsavers emails. Every Thursday, subscribers receive half-price ticket offers for dozens of the hottest shows, music and dance performances and museum exhibitions in the Philadelphia region. funsavers.org

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