Local Theater Productions Find Support in Economic Hardship

By: Lauren Swett

EASTON, MASS. — In today’s economy, people are turning to local college arts as a cheap alternative to the expensive Boston theater programs.

“I think college theater is a great place for inexpensive entertainment,” said Adrianna Cacciato, a Stonehill College student.

It is a place more people are turning to, also. With prices ranging from $5 to $8, college productions are far cheaper than the professional theater programs. According to the BostonTheaterScene.com, ticket prices at BCA Plaza Theatre in Boston can be anywhere from $27 to 35.

Stonehill College’s recent performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Aspects of Love" sold out.

“Ticket sales offset the expenses of the theater.” said Joan Halpert, costume designer and dance instructor at Stonehill College “We are very grateful to get the support we get. People know that despite our size, we put together a great show.”

David Fox, professor of theater at Wheaton College said the attendance had been steady for performances there.

“I think this has a lot to do with the price of our tickets—only $5 for the general public and $2 for students and seniors,” he said.

At Bridgewater State College, the funding for theater programs has been steady. The college recently held their spring concert for the dance program and received a USA dance masterpiece grant to help with the performance.

The president of the college has also vowed to help the theater programs not suffer. “Our president is very supportive of the academic [theater] program. He has pledged to not lay off faculty and staff and not cut our budgets,” Nancy Moses, professor of dance and coordinator of the dance program at Bridgewater State College “it is a phenomenal pledge to make”.

The Stonehill College dance team knows all about economic restrictions. “Everything we wear we pay for,” said dance team member Lisa Coletti. “We pay for our plane ticket and our spending money at nationals.”

The Stonehill College Dance Team is a popular choice of entertainment for many on campus events.

“We are invited to tons of events, this year we did Relay for Life, The Special Olympics, Midnight Madness, basketball games, football games , and Nationals.” said Karissa Nickerson, Stonehill dance team member.

People turn out to see the dancers too. “It’s really nice to hear people say ‘I came to the game to see you girls dance’” said Nickerson.

April 8 the Stonehill Dance Team flew to Daytona Beach to perform at National, a place that is nothing new for the girls. “We are a small no name school”, said Nickerson, “but we do well for ourselves. we place well every year and people know our name.”

From dance to theater people are turning out to local theater performances to get their minds off the stressors of the outside world.

“In hard economic times people turn toward entertainment,” said Halpert, “It’s an escape for them.”

"I think people turn out because we put on a good show” said Heather Tellier a Stonehill student who attends many of the Stonehill productions, “The shows are cheap, on campus, good productions, and different! You never feel like the same plays are put on over and over again.”