Shakespeare & Company is taking action to “Do But Greenly” (as Hamlet might put it) by conserving energy and reducing waste, all the while providing ways for our patrons to help out and save, as well.
Right now everyone is feeling the pinch at the gas pump and supermarket. Shakespeare & Company’s new “Do But Greenly” program can help save energy, reduce carbon footprint and fuel use, and help our staff and patrons keep green energy in their wallets this summer.
“Do But Greenly” encourages all our full-time and visiting staff and patrons to share the car ride whenever, wherever possible, to recycle at every opportunity and to cut back on waste. Thanks to our friends at Berkshire Bike and Board, we also now have a fleet of bikes on property to reduce our gas usage. And our staff is growing an organic garden on a sunny hillside next to our artist residence to help cut food costs and provide fresh vegetables to the Company kitchen.
If you have a green idea or suggestion for us to consider, leave a comment on this post!
How you can join us.
We’re also introducing a “Do But Greenly” ticketing program, so all our patrons can enjoy top-tier theatre and save money while they’re at it. We encourage everyone to call some friends, share the ride, take advantage of our “Do But Greenly” discounts and enjoy a very affordable summer with us.
When you carpool to Shakespeare & Company, you save twice over. You get to enjoy the afternoon or evening with several of your friends, and you’ve limited your gas usage for the day while enjoying one of our several discounts-which means more green in your pocket. Shakespeare & Company’s property and performances are best enjoyed in the company of good friends. Bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine outside Josie’s Café, or take a stroll around our pond.
We’ve got a few ways to make the most of your trip:
CHEAPER BY THE CARLOAD WEDNESDAY NIGHT
From July 23rd through August 27th Wednesdays will be cheaper by the carload. The more who share the ride, the less you will all pay at the box office. So start texting, calling and sending out smoke signals. Round up some friends and plan a day or night with us. You’ll go home enriched in more ways than one!
Pay one rate for your entire group:
6 or 7 per car, you pay $72
5 per car, you pay $75
4 per car, you pay $80
3 per car, you pay $90
These prices are good for all shows in Founders and our new Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. Entire group must arrive in the same vehicle. Let the parking lot attendant know you’re carpooling and you’ll receive a voucher immediately redeemable at the Box Office.
Tickets must be purchased in single transaction, with cash or single credit card. Valid on day of performance only, and for one show only. A limited number of seats have been set aside for this promotion. Cannot be combined with any other discount. Offer may be rescinded without notification. For safety’s sake, this offer is valid only groups of 7 or less. Please obey all seatbelt safety laws.
FOUR FOR TWO THURSDAYS
From now until August 28, you can get four tickets for the price of two to any Thursday performance in Founders or in the new Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. What you do with the green you save is up to you, but we encourage you to get some friends, double date and share the car ride. It’ll be a little more money in your pocket the next time you fill up.
Use code 4428. Valid on B & C seats only. A limited number of seats have been set aside. This offer can be rescinded without notification.
All’s Well Who Eat Well – Slow Food Benefit and Elizabethan Food Tasting
The July 24th 8pm performance of All’s Well That Ends Well was preceded by a festive menu tasting (beginning at 6:15), featuring Elizabethan morsels created from locally grown produce. 10% of box office receipts from that performance were donated to Slow Food of Western Mass to help support their varied nutrition and green agriculture programs and community events.
Slow Food is an international organization committed to the principles and benefits of sustainable local agriculture and to the growth of healthy nutrition worldwide. The Western Mass chapter of Slow Foods work with students and community health organizations to get nutritious, locally grown food onto people’s tables.
You can explore more here: http://www.slowfood.com/ and http://www.slowfoodusa.org/
UPDATED: 7/31/08
All wonderful, but how about scheduling some performances of your plays at times that local residents can attend — and get home from them — by the B bus?
I live in Lee, do not drive, and can only attend your morning shows (representing only a fraction of your repertoire) because all the others let out too late for me to come home from Lenox — and, yes, these include plays that start in the afternoon. The B bus cuts off after 5 p.m. and doesn’t run at all on Sundays.
I learned to avoid your afternoon matinees the hard way by having to take a taxi home from Lenox after one of your plays a few summers ago, when I just missed the last bus south. The fare cost me more than my ticket to the show…and I was lucky to even FIND an available taxi (it took 3 frantic phone calls to various companies).
I realize I am very much in the minority here to not own a car, but surely with some encouragement and thoughtful scheduling on your part, others would be willing to walk to and from your theater from downtown Lenox.
Thanks for your comment, Iris. We’re glad you enjoy us so much that you’d brave public transit to get here!
We do have a few upcoming Saturday morning matinees that may be possible for you: Goatwoman performs on August 2, 16, and 30 at 10:30, while Ladies Man performs on August 9 and 23, also at 10:30.
Had to laugh at “brave public transit.” I’ve been riding the B bus for six years, to many places other than to reach Shakespeare & Co.’s theaters. The idea that riding the bus is frightening or otherwise daunting is exactly why too many people are still using their cars to reach venues that are easy to reach by local bus. Let me assure you that riding the bus is perfectly safe and doesn’t require an advanced degree to figure out how to navigate.