Cast Ticket Sales
Yes! We sell tickets to our own shows.
No need to be embarrassed; people actually want to see our shows, and your friends would probably love to see you doing your thing on stage. At least the first time. Probably after that, too.
Also, if they buy tickets from you rather than directly from the Carolina Theater, they can save a little money.
If it's more convenient for them to just order over the phone, though, that's fine -- the Carolina Theater is a fine old institution that deserves support, too. The important thing is that they come to the show.
Goals & Deadlines
Sell lots of tickets to friends, family and strangers you meet on the street. Everyone is expected to sell at least 10 tickets.The cast is often responsible for a third of the total ticket sales - so if you would like nice audiences and good ticket income for the Savoyards, please sell lots of tickets. Don't forget, your nearest and dearest will probably be willing to actually pay to see you onstage, so think about using your 2 comp tickets as "twofers". That is, you give someone a comp and they buy another ticket to bring a friend.
If you are a member of a listserve, such as a neighborhood list or a club, offer the others on the list a chance to buy tickets at a lower rate through you. Send out a teaser about the show, and give your contact information. I'm including a sample, but be creative - you know best what might appeal to your friends. Also, if your company would be willing to have group sales, contact Ray Clark to make arrangements for this.
Here is an example of info you could send out:
"There's intrigue and deception in the Tower of London. Who knows whom to believe in this musical tale of daring schemes, narrow escapes and plans gone awry? Is there any credence to the claim that dashing prisoner Colonel Fairfax is a sorcerer, or is he falsely accused? Does fickle Phoebe really have her eye on the ugly head jailor, or is she just eyeing his keys? Will the impoverished singer Elsie marry a condemned man for his inheritance - and will her hopeful suitor, jester Jack Point, let her? Will wily spinster Dame Carruthers find that prying and snooping can lead her to the altar at long last?
All these questions and more can be answered by the Durham Savoyards performances of "Yeomen of the Guard", set in Shakespeare's time at the Tower of London. See the lavish costuming with Yeomen dressed in bright red "Beefeater" costumes and others in Elizabethan garb. There will be singing and dancing aplenty and a full orchestra to round out the music within one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most operatic scores. "I have a song to sing, O!......."
All performances are at Durham's historic Carolina Theatre which has parking available in the lighted and patrolled city garage across the street. Performances are 8:00 PM Thursday April 17 through Saturday April 19 and 2:00 PM Sunday April 20.
(YOUR GROUP NAME) can get a $3 discount on reserved seats (normally $25), and not pay box office or online ticket fees, by purchasing tickets through a cast member,(YOUR NAME). Thus, tickets are $22 for reserved seating (the center section of the orchestra and first 3 rows in the balcony), $15 for general admission (everything else), and a special $10 price for any seat on Thursday, April 17 (no reserved seats).
This will be a good time for the entire family with brave Yeomen, beautiful maidens, large chorus and full orchestra. Bring your kids and grandkids! General admission price for children under 12 is $10 for any performance. More information is available at www.durhamsavoyards.org."
What you need to start
Two ticket forms are available here for you to download. The .doc file is about 30 KB and the Adobe Acrobat .pdf file is about 110 KB.
How to take an order
Be sure to fill out the form completely, with good contact information for the buyer. This is needed by the theatre so they can contact the buyer if there are any questions about seating, credit card information, etc. Also, be sure to include your name so tickets can be given back to the right person by the Ticketmaster. If desired, fill out and tear off the top Receipt portion of the form to give to your buyer.
Before handing in the form, doublecheck that all the information is filled out correctly and the right amount of money is included. Remember, all checks MUST be made out to the Carolina Theatre. If there are special seating needs for reserved seats, please mark those requests on the form.
What to do with your orders
Give your ticket forms and money to the cast Ticketmaster, Cathy Lambe.
What happens next
The Ticketmaster will return your tickets and forms to you and you give the purchased tickets to your buyers. Be sure to mark on the form whether you want tickets returned to you or left at "Will Call". Remember, you need to allow time for the forms to be turned in, processed, tickets be returned to you and still be able to get tickets back to your buyers in plenty of time for the show. In the last few weeks, "Will Call" might be safest.