By SHARON EBERSON
This story was updated on September 26, 2025, with further details.
An early sign of how Pittsburgh’s largest producing theaters may share services and work together beyond the stage came today, as City Theatre and Pittsburgh Public Theater announced a collaboration to “take in more performances for less money.”
The joint “buy more, save more” offer is part of of the theaters’ “ongoing efforts to collaborate and to look for opportunities to share resources around audience development.” The discounts lasts until October 19, 2025, and are available for full-price tickets only.
“Through this unique partnership and pilot program, we are looking to maximize, incentivize, and simplify ways for theater-lovers to enjoy and experience more plays,” said James McNeel, City Theatre’s managing director. “With what started as an idea over breakfast many months ago with Pittsburgh Public, we have launched this initiative to encourage audiences to expand across a river and build their own theatrical journey by picking and choosing productions at both City Theatre and The Public. We want folks to attend more plays, no matter where. We are grateful to RAD for supporting this effort.”
Pittsburgh Public Theater and City Theatre approached the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) through its Connection Grant program, seeking funding to seed the concept of an audience cross-over pilot program, the companies said in a joint statement. Funding for this initiative was approved by RAD’s board this past spring. Phase One of the initiative provided season subscribers at each theater the chance to “add-on” performances at the other with a meaningful discount.
“An overarching goal of this program is to celebrate the power of partnership between Pittsburgh Public Theater and City Theatre,” said Shaunda McDill, managing director of The Public. “Since the pandemic, collaboration has been essential to how we navigate a changed cultural landscape, and expanding these efforts to include audience development is a natural next step. Together, our theaters represent more than a century of artistic excellence, and it’s time we think boldly about how to sustain the next hundred years of locally produced work. We’re grateful to City Theatre for joining us in this effort, and we’re excited to see if offering more theater-going opportunities at a great price will inspire audiences to support and celebrate both of our organizations.”
Here’s how it works: After your online selection to a show at either City Theatre or Pittsburgh Public Theater is added to your cart, a new screen will display links to other shows at both theaters. Select at least one more show from either theater, and discounts are automatically applied at checkout.
The “buy more, save more” discounts are:
- Buy any two shows, save 10%.
- Buy any three shows, save 20%.
- Buy any four shows, save 30%.
- Buy five or more shows, save 40%.
For tickets and details, visit https://culturaldistrict.org/pages/city-theatre-pittsburgh-public-theater-buy-more-save-more.
City Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO have been in talks about working together to alleviate financial woes facing all three theaters, a sign of the times nationwide.
Categories: Arts Funding, Company, Our Posts
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