C.S.A. shares are no longer reserved for locavores alone. The Bricks Theatre has announced the availability of Community Supported Arts "shares" for its 2010-2011 season. Instead of the weekly boxful of fresh produce that comes with the more familiar community-supported agriculture subscription, the bounty here is theatrical.
For $150, subscribers to one full Bricks community-supported arts "share" receive an eight-ticket pass to the four plays being staged during the Bricks' 2010-2011 season: September's production of Sam Shepard's True West, a holiday production of David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries, a February production of Neal LaBute's The Mercy Seat and an April production of Kyle Jarrow's musical Gorilla Man. But wait, there's more: free admission to "two Bricks special events or non-featured performance" and a subscription to the "shareholder" e-newsletter.
Half-shares, at $75, include a four-ticket pass to the four featured plays, free admission to one of the aforementioned special events or non-featured performances, and the e-newsletter.
And then there's the $250 Premium Share, which comes with all the bounty of a full share plus the opportunity to help select the final production of the 2011-2012 season, from a pool of 10 plays chosen by Bricks producers.
Some "shares" -- and portions thereof -- can be worked off at the rate of $25 per every four hours of labor contributed to Bricks Theatre, while the supply of work opportunities lasts.
George Gonzalez, the company's producing director, attributes the inspiration for community-supported arts "shares" to Bricks executive director Dave Pausch, though Gonzalez -- a veteran of Mercury Players and Madison Repertory Theatre -- adds that the concept has been introduced elsewhere across the country.
In a sluggish economy, Gonzalez says, a nascent theater company like the Bricks is obliged to strategize. Beyond generating start-up capital, he explains, "Our goal is to make the theater experience more interactive."
This includes inviting its community-supported arts backers to parties, script read-throughs by cast members early in the rehearsal process, tours and other special opportunities throughout the season.
"We like to involve people," he explains. "We like feedback."
Announced today, the company's Community Supported Arts shares are available or by emailing bricksshares@thebrickstheatre.com. More information is also available by phone at 608-358-9609.
