The Glimmerglass Festival is delighted to announce two new community initiatives: Neighbors’ Nights, which offers reduced-price tickets for the Festival’s supportive local community, and Lyrics on the Lawn, offering free outdoor performances to all.
Neighbors’ Nights: A Heartfelt Thank You to the Festival’s Local Community
Thursday nights in August are Glimmerglass Neighbors’ Nights! On these special evenings, Festival-goers can choose any seat in the Alice Busch Opera Theater for $35 (+ fees). The 918-seat theater offers guests an immersive experience, with all seats less than 70 feet from the stage and a design that ensures an intimate view and unmatched acoustics, regardless of location. During Neighbors’ Nights, attendees can experience the side-splitting antics of The Pirates of Penzance (August 1 or August 15) or the heart-pounding drama of Pagliacci (August 8). With world-renowned casts, stunning sets, and exquisite music, Neighbors’ Nights offers the Glimmerglass community an unrivaled theatrical experience for less than the cost of a meal out.
Neighbors’ Nights tickets will go on sale starting April 15th, 2024, and will be available until July 15th, 2024, or until tickets are sold out. Neighbors’ Nights are made possible by the generous sponsorship of Honorary Life Trustees Faith E. Gay and Francesca Zambello, Trustee Patricia Chadwick and Amica Companies Foundation, and longtime supporter Andrew Martin-Weber. Thanks to their generosity, Glimmerglass is able to offer these deeply discounted tickets, making Neighbors’ Nights accessible to anyone keen to experience the Festival.
“We are thrilled to introduce Neighbors’ Nights as part of our 2024 Festival,” said Rob Ainsley, Artistic & General Director of The Glimmerglass Festival. “This program allows us to express our gratitude for the exceptional support we receive from our local community. We believe everyone should have access to the arts, and Neighbors’ Nights is a step toward making that vision a reality. We are so thankful to Faith, Francesca, Patricia, and Andrew for making this program possible.”
Lyrics on the Lawn: Free Outdoor Performances
In addition to Neighbors’ Nights, the Festival will host a series of free events called “Lyrics on the Lawn.” Performed on a new outdoor stage, each Lyrics on the Lawn concert will be a delightful mix of lively music and humor-packed theatrics. Holly Adams, The Glimmerglass Festival’s 2024 “clown-in-residence,” along with Festival dancers, will guide the audience through scenes featuring colorful characters from inside the story of Pagliacci—like the romantic goofball Harlequin and the know-it-all Dottore. Each performance will be unique, with music chosen by Glimmerglass Young Artists, transporting audiences into the world of traditional Italian folk theater with a fresh, modern twist. Lyrics on the Lawn performances will take place on July 27, July 29, August 2, August 6, August 8, August 10, and August 18, and will begin one hour before the start of Pagliacci. These 40-minute concerts are weather permitting, free of charge, and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating on the lawn.
“Lyrics on the Lawn shares some of the history of our artform while giving patrons the chance to enjoy the beauty of our campus” shared Ainsley. “We encourage you to order a meal from The Horned Dorset, a longtime Festival partner, grab a drink from our Marketplace Bistro, or even bring your own picnic. Let the grass be your seat and the sunshine your backdrop for these one-of-a-kind concerts!”
The 2024 Festival will be a season filled with exceptional performances and unforgettable experiences. To take advantage of Neighbors’ Nights or learn more about Lyrics on the Lawn and other community concerts, interested individuals are encouraged to call the Box Office at (607) 547-2255, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 am and 4:30 pm.
The Neighbors’ Nights promotion is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is only valid for the Thursday evening performances of The Pirates of Penzance and Pagliacci on August 1, August 8, and August 15. The Neighbors’ Nights discount is eligible on price levels I-V (price level VI is excluded from this offer) and may not be used on previously purchased tickets or combined with other offers. Please note that “Neighbors’ Nights” needs to be mentioned when calling the Box Office to receive the discounted price. The Festival acknowledges and appreciates those community members who have already purchased regular-priced tickets to eligible Thursday performances. Their ongoing support has made this initiative possible.
The Festival is also proud to continue its commitment to other long-standing community partnerships for the 2024 season: the Springfield Appreciation Concert (July 13), Richfield Springs Concert in the Park (June 26), and the “Glimmerglass Kids” initiative in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
The Glimmerglass Festival Campus | Photo by Brent DeLanoy/The Glimmerglass Festival
2023 "Glimmerglass Kids" Program | Photo by Brent DeLanoy/The Glimmerglass Festival
The Alice Busch Opera Theater | Photo by Brent DeLanoy/The Glimmerglass Festival
The Alice Busch Opera Theater | Photo by Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival
2023 Springfield Appreciation Concert | Photo by Evan Zimmerman/The Glimmerglass Festival
Glimmerglass on the Grass | 2021 Festival | Photo by Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival