Posted: 09/05/07

Experience the cultural pass
$30 buys season tickets to the Flynn

Katie Colleran | staff editor
kcolleran@smcvt.edu

For skiers and boarders at St. Michael’s College, the Smuggs’ pass offers cheap access to a real mountain. But, those who do not partake in winter sports get left out. This semester there is a pass available that everyone can enjoy, no physical activity required.

The $30 Cultural Pass allows students' admission to main stage productions at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Burlington, as well as other performances and artistic series at the theatre. For one low fee, a season of new opportunities is available.

An idea is born

The Cultural Pass is the brainchild of former college president Marc vanderHeyden. Anne Conaway-Peters, director of marketing, says she remembers discussing the idea with him.

“We were talking about the success of the Smuggs’ program and he said ‘I would love to do something similar for the performing arts,'" she says. “He asked if I would explore the idea.”

Former President vanderHeyden first suggested a cultural pass. Echo archives, photo

Conaway-Peters spent the summer looking into developing the pass. There were many unknown factors, such as the number of students likely to participate and if the students were likely to use the pass after purchasing it, she says.

“The thing I really like is that the pass has dual benefits,” Conaway-Peters says. “It’s really wonderful for our current students, but also it’s a really powerful marketing attraction for prospective students.”

  With so much potential, the unknowns needed to be worked out. After crunching numbers and getting student input, the idea turned into something more concrete. While vanderHeyden had hoped the pass would encompass a number of artistic areas, for this first year the school has only partnered with the Flynn Center, Conaway-Peters says.

“We felt like they offered the most comprehensive season, it just made sense to start with them,” she says. “They have been a tremendous help in getting this program to work.”

Christopher Kaufman, programming manager at the Flynn Center, will be acting as the Flynn contact for St. Michael’s.

“Marc and his wife have been long- time supporters and see the Flynn as a valuable resource,” he says. “We were very excited when St. Michael’s approached us with this. It’s very unique. We’ve offered discounts to shows before, but nothing like this.”

Not only will the students benefit from being able to see more than 50 affordable shows, but the Flynn Center gains something too.

“We always want to see more young people at the Flynn,” Kaufman says. “They think of our dance, theatre, ballets as being for an older crowd, but anyone can enjoy them.”
           
Broadening horizons

After buying the pass, students have a wide choice of performances to go to, Kaufman says.

“Each student who buys a pass has access to one ticket to each of our main stage shows-Broadway productions, modern dance, ballet,” he says. “They also have the opportunity to see 10-15 additional shows that are not on the regular schedule, such as jazz cabarets, the Capitol Steps [political comedy group] and an acrobatic troupe.”


Seats at every single show listed on the Flynn Center posters that hang around campus are available to pass holders. The only shows not included in the Cultural Pass offer are shows like the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and some rock’n’roll shows that rent the Flynn Center's space, Kaufman says.

Because pass holders do not get assigned a specific seat for every show, its best to call ahead and reserve a spot like any other show goer, he says.

“If you have set plans, you can call and get seats for the whole year,” Kaufman says. “If friends want to sit together, they should plan ahead. If you call ahead or come with a group to purchase a ticket, you will likely get a seat together.”

The Flynn is conveniently located in downtown Burlington. Katie Colleran, photo

In addition to being something for friends to do on the weekends, the pass is meant to have academic value. Joan Wagner, coordinator of academic programming, is working to help students make the most of the pass.

“My role in this is simply to get the word out and to educate about the pass while looking for curriculum connections,” Wagner says.

Kaufman has been working with Wagner to best connect the shows offered to the college’s academic offerings. This has involved sending out e-mails, posting flyers and having a table at different student events, such as the upcoming activities fair in Alliot on Sept. 6 and 7, Wagner says. 

  “Many of the shows offered have pre- and post-performance lectures,” Wagner says. “Those are a great way to enhance a global studies class or an anthropology class. We have been partnering with faculty to help find shows that fit with courses.”

Two thumbs up

Because this is the first year the pass is offered, it is on trial until the school can see how the students receive it. Though Wagner has only been involved in this project for a few weeks, she says she is already feeling optimistic.

“With anything brand new, we need a trial just to get a response and see what works, what doesn’t,” Wagner says. “So far, I haven’t heard one negative thing. I think students recognize the value of this pass, not only for entertainment, but for the connection to the classroom.”

Junior Erin Brady is one student looking forward to buying the pass.

“I really like live stage performances,” she says. “I used to go a lot at home, but I really couldn’t afford to go all the time up here.”

The pass will "broaden cultural exposure to give better appreciation for the arts," Devlin says. Larry Frisoli, photo

Brady already has plans for which shows she wants to see. She says she is most looking forward to Momix, a group of dance illusionists that can do awesome things with their bodies.

  “Pretty much everyone I know is excited for it,” Brady says. “It’s like the Smugg’s pass for people who don’t ski. This is a program through school I can get something out of.”

 It is not only the students who are enthusiastic. Fine arts professor John Devlin is as well.

“I am pleased and impressed with the institute for offering this,” he says. “It strikes me as moving into new territory for expanding student life.”

Devlin, along with English professor Nick Clary, taught a first-year seminar that involved bringing students to shows, but the price of tickets limited what they could see and how often, he says. This new pass will help to expand classes like Devlin’s.

“My hope would be that students go to a variety of productions,” Devlin says. “Anything we can do to bring people into viewing the arts broadens their appreciation for the human condition.”