Pay What You Can!

All tickets to all Hub performances are Pay What You Can, a new but growing business paradigm in the performing arts. While most theatre companies offer at least one PWYC performance, we've decided to adopt it full-time: every seat, every show, every time.

​A key focus of our mission is to remove barriers between art and audience, and the economic barrier is arguably one of the largest. Of all the reasons not to go to a play, we want to make sure ticket price isn't the reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does "Pay What You Can" Mean? 
Just what it says. We don't decide what our tickets cost; you do. You give us the amount of money you think is fair (either to you or to us), and we let you in. Simple, right?

What Should I Pay?
Well, whatever you can. But if you need guidelines, here's what we ask you to ask yourself:

• "What Am I Accustomed To Pay?"

Most Boston area small/fringe companies charge between $15 and $30 a ticket. We'd appreciate if you can land in that range. If you typically get senior or student discounts, feel free to adjust accordingly. If you usually order through discount purchasing sites like Bostix or GoldStar, ditto.

• "What Am I Willing To Pay?"

We're still a new theatre company, so we can't boast of a long history of brilliant, award-winning, critically-acclaimed productions (yet). Maybe we haven't proven ourselves to you. So if you want to take us out for a test drive, pay a modest amount for your ticket. When we exceed your expectations, you can always pay extra as you leave.

• "What Am I Able To Pay?"

Maybe you're a student on a tight budget, or a senior on a fixed income. Maybe you're going through some tough times. We get it. We see our colleagues and peers crippled by staggering student loans and credit card debt. We understand. Even middle-class households feel the crunch. Arts and culture are frequently the first items in the family budget to be cut when facing tough economic choices, especially when tickets to larger productions can cost over $100. We want to make it possible for you to see live theatre regardless of your situation. If you have $20, that's great, but if you have $5, that's fine too; we won't turn you away.

• Please Bear In Mind...

Although we try to keep our production costs as low as possible, between space rental, performance royalties, cast and crew stipends, prop/costume/set expenses, publicity material, etc, even small-scale theatre is an expensive venture. Our typical budget is about $10,000 per production. While we seek individual donations, grant support and corporate sponsorship to help underwrite our shows, we also ask that you do your part through your ticket purchase, to the extent of your ability.

Who Else Does This?
A growing number of theatre companies nationwide have adopted All-Pay-What-You-Can ticketing. Locally, Whistler in the Dark Theatre switched to PWYC for their final season. Chelsea's Apollinaire Theatre tried it out a few years ago. Our friends at Theatre On Fire has adopted a system where you can pay $20, $10, or zero. Available Light Theatre in Columbus OH adopted all-PWYC ticketing and quadrupled their audience and tripled their budget in three years. Los Angeles' Coeurage Theatre is another all-PWYC company making waves. Even the larger theatre companies are starting to catch on: Seattle's acclaimed A.C.T. offers all remaining unsold day-of-show tickets at the door for PWYC.

Outside of theatre, alternative rock band Radiohead initially released their 2008 album In Rainbows as a Pay-What-You-Can download. Rock-n-roll icon Jon Bon Jovi's restaurant in Red Bank NJ, Soul Kitchen, has a no-price, all-donation menu. The Panera Bread Foundation has five volunteer-staffed Panera Cares community cafes nationwide that offer a Pay What You Can menu; including one in Government Center.

How Do I Order Tickets?
The Hub has partnered with TicketLeap to offer online ticket sales that allow the buyer to set the price of the tickets when ordering. Remaining tickets are available at the door; we accept cash, check and all major credit cards. Seating is general admission, but we will happily accommodate special requests (wheelchair access, etc) with sufficient notice.

Why Do You Do This?
For a start, adopting all-PWYC ticketing allows us to streamline our box office operation, making it easier for us and for you: no student or senior discounts, no 'special friends' or 'starving artist' discounts, no demand-based or dynamic pricing, no rush tickets, no internet discount codes, no secret passwords to give at the box office, no Goldstar or Bostix memberships, no subscriber discounts, nothing. You just give us what you're accustomed, willing, or able to pay.

But the main reason is simple. In the spirit of Vermont's Bread and Puppet Theatre and their Cheap Art Philosophy, we believe that the arts are for everyone and that there should be no economic barriers between audience and art. We figure that this is a good way to cultivate a loyal, diverse, and adventurous audience.