What Is OpenStage Theatre & Company's Pay What You Can Option?

OpenStage Theatre & Company lists a "Pay What You Can" page on its site, but the available site content does not describe how the program works, which performances it covers, or who qualifies. The practical answer: treat it as a separate access option from standard ticketing and check that page directly before planning a show around it. The main site's ticketing guidance points to season packages and individual tickets bought through the "Get Tickets" button on each show page — Pay What You Can is not presented as part of that flow.

What the site confirms

• OpenStage has been producing live theatre since 1973 and is currently promoting Season 54 (2026–2027), including Dracula (October 31 – November 28, 2026) and a season spanning Gothic horror, feminist satire, historical comedy, and a Shakespearean classic.
• Season tickets and individual tickets are on sale, purchased per show via the "Get Tickets" button on each show page.
• A dedicated Pay What You Can page exists at openstage.com/pay-what-you-can/.
• The organization states a commitment to expanding access and belonging for audiences and artists across Colorado, which is the context in which an access-priced option typically sits.

How pay-what-you-can pricing generally works

The model lets a audience member choose their own ticket price, often with a suggested minimum or a "start at" amount, rather than paying a fixed listed price. Theatres usually apply it to specific performances (previews, certain weeknights, or a designated community night) rather than the whole run, and availability is often limited or first-come. Because terms vary by company, the only reliable source for OpenStage's version is its own page.

What to check on the Pay What You Can page

Before you count on it for a particular date, confirm:

1. Which performances — a single designated night, previews, or any performance in the run.
2. Whether it applies to Season 54 shows such as Dracula, or only selected productions.
3. How to participate — online at checkout, at the box office, or by phone — and whether advance reservation is possible.
4. Any suggested minimum or eligibility notes, and whether seats are limited.
5. Whether it can be combined with season packages or group purchases (generally it is an alternative, not an add-on).

How it differs from standard ticketing

If your goal is simply to attend a given show on a given date, buying through the show page is the documented route. If cost is the deciding factor, check the Pay What You Can page first, then fall back to standard tickets if the program doesn't cover your date.