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A new Performing Arts Subscription Series

By Joan Alleman Rubin

On a recent visit to my hometown in Pennsylvania an ancient auntie regaled me with stories of her youthful days in New York. She had heard the great Caruso sing and seen the "Divine Sarah" play Theodora. She had even made her way ("quite bravely," she said) to a rickety studio in Greenwich Village to watch an unknown teenager named Martha Graham.

The conversation made me wonder why I don't treat myself more often to that kind of diversity. It's true I see a lot of theatre; but not nearly enough dance and virtually no opera. And I must confess that the reason, quite simply, is that I'm lazy about buying tickets.

But now it looks like a couple of powers-that-be in the performing arts (Gerald Schoenfeld of the Shubert organization and John Mazzola of Lincoln Center among them) might have the answer to my lethargy.

They are testing a new Performing Arts Subscription Series which makes it possible for a subscriber to buy a ticket to the Metropolitan Opera, a ticket to a performance of the New York City Ballet, and a ticket to two Broadway hits for the total of about $50....And here's the kicker. The attractions are "sold-out" productions that have had excellent reviews and terrific public appeal Tosca and Falstaff, for example, are the choices at the Met. Equus and Sherlock Holmes are the Broadway shows. Dances at A Gathering and Dybbuk Variations are the NYCB ballets.

The seat locations, from all reports, are in "preferred orchestra locations." The price for each of the four tickets is just what you'd pay at the box office. And you can put the whole tab on your credit card.

Sounds good. But these days an offer, especially an offer I can't refuse, generally prompts a nagging skepticism. So I went to Gerry Schoenfeld and said, in effect, "What's the story, Gerry?"

"First off," he told me, "we didn't put together the Performing Arts Subscription Series in order to sell tickets. All these performances would probably be sold out in any case. We created PASS because we honestly believe that there are a lot of people who might genuinely enjoy combining the best of Broadway and Lincoln Center. If this test proves popular, then next season perhaps we'll offer additional attractions such as symphony, concerts; much more theatre, opera and ballet."

Of course, Messrs. Schoenfeld, Mazzola, et al, believe there's a little something in PASS for their organizations. But the "little something" seems not to be financial. "The reason the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet and representatives of the Broadway theatre are cooperating for the first time in history," said Mr. Mazzola, "is that we believe that this kind of interaction may result in new audiences for each of us."

For further information, watch for the PASS order form which will appear in PLAYBILL and The Lincoln Center Programs, or call 212-874-0875.

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Announcing the Performing Arts Subscription Series
Your PASSport for great performances at Lincoln Center and Broadway
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* The magnificent Metropolitan Opera
*The glorious New York City Ballet
*The most exciting Broadway theatre

PASS
PERFORMING ARTS
SUBSCRIPTION SERIES
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