Play Company Offers 'Pay What You Can' Tickets

DETROIT (WWJ) - Enjoying the fine arts these days is expensive. But one Detroit play company just featured on the BBC is making sure you can afford a seat in their audience.

WWJ's Kathryn Larson went under the hot lights of the play house, on Broadway Street, where the actors of the Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company stick out their necks, using one of their final dress rehearsals to knit together a nineteenth century political thriller, "Rosemersholm."

"This play is like a really good detective story," said Frannie Shephard-Bates, the play's Director. "At the beginning of the play, you think you know the whole story, but as, sort of, the facts pop up and things unravel, you realize you really don't know they story at all, and it has a very surprising ending."

Shephard-Bates said "Rosemersholm" is a rare treat to watch because it's simply never performed. But, Bates said the piece is historically known as Henrik Ibsen's best work.

"You know, it might be your only opportunity ever to see this play. So, if you want to check out a lesser known work by a really great playwright, this is your chance," Shephard-Bates said.

If you want to check out the play, but aren't sure if you can afford your seat, Shephard-Bates said you shouldn't worry.

"One of the ways that we make sure that our theatre is accessible to everyone is by offering 'pay what you can' tickets to every performance. So, there's one ticket price, but if you can't afford it, that's fine. We just want you to see the show. So, you can come and you can pay $10, you can pay $5, some people give us the change out of their pockets. Whatever you can do, we just want you at the play," she said.

Read a review of the play here.

For more information on the Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company, including showtimes, visit www.magentagiraffe.org.