FAQ
October 28 - December 3, 2011
THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this Tarell Alvin McCraney guy, anyway?
How can I purchase tickets to THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS?
I'm sorry, what? Three plays? Two separate evenings? I don't get it!
I'm a C1 Member. How many "shows" does this count as on my card?
I want to experience the whole trilogy - is there a ticket option for this?
I have tickets to see Part II before I see Part I. Will I be totally confused?
This whole thing seems really complicated. Why is Company One doing this trilogy in the first place?
Q. Who is this Tarell Alvin McCraney guy, anyway?
A: He's only the hottest young playwright around! Born in Miami, Tarell is a 30-year-old prodigy who has taken the international theater scene by storm in only a few short years. His plays have been produced in London, New York, Atlanta, D.C., Barcelona, and Dublin. McCraney is currently the RSC/Warwick International Playwright in Residence at the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble. In 2009, he was awarded the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award for THE BROTHERS SIZE. He's one of the most startling and brilliant young writers we've ever heard, and we can't wait for you to hear his voice! Visit our Playwright Page to read his full bio.
Q. How can I purchase tickets to THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS?
A: As with all Company One productions, there are many ways you can purchase tickets. To purchase tickets online, visit www.bostontheatrescene.com and search for Company One. You can call 617-933-8600 to purchase over the phone. Or you can purchase tickets in person at the Calderwood Pavilion Box Office, 527 Tremont Street, Boston. If you are interested in seeing the whole trilogy, make sure to check out/ask about our discount Marathon price when purchasing!
Q. I'm sorry, what? Three plays? Two separate evenings? I don't get it!
A: Let us explain. THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS is a trilogy, made up of three separate, smaller plays. Each individual play is anywhere from 65 minutes to 90 minutes long, so if we presented them all in one fell swoop, you'd be in the theater for about 5 hours straight (with breaks). And, while that idea might sound heavenly for some, for others it would be considerably less appealing.
So, we've broken the trilogy into two pieces - two different evenings of theater. Part One contains the first play in the trilogy, IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER, and Part Two consists of the second and third plays: THE BROTHERS SIZE performed with MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET. So to sum up: you get three plays in two parts, equaling one theatrical event!
Q. I'm a C1 Member. How many "shows" does this count as on my card?
A: The trilogy is made up of 2 parts, and each part counts as 1 "show" off your card.
Therefore, if you want to see both Part 1(IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER) and Part 2(THE BROTHERS SIZE performed with MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET) it will count as 2 shows from your membership.
Q. I want to experience the whole trilogy - is there a ticket option for this?
A: We want you to see the whole trilogy, so to sweeten the deal we're offering a special discounted price if you see both parts. Starting November 12, every Saturday and Sunday of the run will be "Marathon Days," meaning you can see both parts in one day. When you purchase your tickets be sure to use the Marathon price option, and you will get the special discount. YOU MUST SIMULTANEOUSLY PURCHASE A TICKET TO BOTH PARTS OF THE TRILOGY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MARATHON PRICE.
Q. I'd rather see the two parts on different days instead of all in one day. Can I still get the Marathon discount if I see each part separately?
A: Yes! We understand that some people would rather see each part separately, so we're extending the Marathon price to anyone who simultaneously purchases tickets to both parts. Think of it as "Make Your Own Marathon:" You select any two dates/times that work for you, and you get the discounted Marathon price! Bottom line: As long as you purchase both tickets at the same time, you qualify for the special Marathon price. Just make sure to select the Marathon price option when you are purchasing tickets. YOU MUST SIMULTANEOUSLY PURCHASE A TICKET TO BOTH PARTS OF THE TRILOGY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MARATHON PRICE.
Q. I have tickets to see Part II before I see Part I. Will I be totally confused?
A: Nope. Each part of the trilogy can be enjoyed by itself, which means that you can see them in any order and still follow the story of each play. That said, the plays take on a special resonance when experienced as a set, and we encourage you to see both parts. Each play has its own self-contained plot, so you won't be left with a "to be continued" feeling at the end of any of the three stories. But, if for some reason you DO get lost, you can visit the production page for plot summaries of each of the plays.
Q. I tried to purchase tickets at the Marathon price and found it really confusing. Could I get some help?
A: Absolutely - we'll gladly help you navigate the system! Here are step-by-step instructions:
- When you visit the ticket sales page, click on the dropdown menu under "Select Dates" to choose the first performance date you would like to attend.
- After you select the performance date, you will see a map showing the available seats for that performance. If you have a promotional code, please enter it in the box at the top of the page now and hit enter.
- On the seating map, click on the seat(s) you would like, and a price list will pop-up.
- Below the traditional price options on this list are two Marathon options - a Marathon-Senior ticket for people 62+ with valid ID, and a basic Marathon ticket for all other ages. Select one of these Marathon options and click the red "Add Seats to Cart" button.
- You will be brought to a page with a summary of your order - please click the red button that says "Continue Shopping".
- This will return you to the homepage of the website where you can search for the other part of the trilogy.
- Repeat steps 1-3 to reserve a ticket to the other part of the trilogy.
- Your order summary page should list your tickets to BOTH parts of the trilogy. Proceed to checkout to purchase your tickets!
Q. I've heard you're running a special $25 MARATHON SUNDAY? What is the deal with this - how is it different than the already discounted marathon price?
A: To celebrate the first weekend of Marathon Days, we're having a special $25 MARATHON SUNDAY on November 13th. We have set aside an extremely limited number of tickets to be sold for the MARATHON SUNDAY price of $25 - that's only $12.50 for each performance! To take advantage of this special day, simply choose the 11/13/11 3pm MARATHON SUNDAY option from the dropdown menu on the ticket sales page. When you see the seating chart, you will be selecting tickets for BOTH performances in one click - the 3pm IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER, and the 7pm THE BROTHERS SIZE and MARCUS: OR THE SECRET OF SWEET. But remember - this $25 MARATHON SUNDAY deal is only available on Sunday, November 13 on a limited number of seats - grab them while you can!
Q. Your disclaimer says that THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS "contain adult language and mature themes." Can you elaborate?
A: Sure! Let's start with "adult language". All three plays contain swear words, some of which are racially charged, and many of which are on the stronger end of the spectrum. The language of the plays is heightened and poetic, but the words are informed by the gritty, urban world that the plays are set in. If you have ever seen a show on HBO, you won't hear anything you haven't heard before.
Now, for "mature themes". First off, the trilogy does contain sexual content. The plays also tackle a number of weighty issues involving race, class, and homosexuality. They're mature themes and require a mature audience member.
Q. I have three children, ages 8, 13, and 17. Can I bring them to THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS? They're really mature!
A: We really can't make that decision for you. Every child has a different level of maturity, and every parent has a different set of boundaries for what their child is ready to experience.
That being said, with regards to the 8-year-old: absolutely not. The 13-year-old is right on the bubble; it would take a very mature 13-year-old to handle the content. On the other hand, some of the characters in the play are that young. As for the 17-year-old: again, we can't speak for everyone, but we'd be willing to bet that THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS don't contain anything he or she hasn't heard before, although perhaps not on stage. We're aware that language on the stage has a different impact than it does on the playground.
Q. So I already bought my tickets, but now that I hear about these "Marathon" tickets I want to exchange! What should I do?
A: Unfortunately, the Marathon pricing is only available if you purchase your tickets to both parts of the trilogy simultaneously. If you attend one part and then decide you'd like to see the other, you are not eligible for the Marathon price discount. So the best way to avoid this conundrum is to be proactive and simultaneously purchase a ticket to both parts of the trilogy so you can receive the Marathon price - as they say, the early bird gets the worm!
Q. This whole thing seems really complicated. Why is Company One doing this trilogy in the first place?
A: How could we not (McCraney uses this phrase often - listen for it)!
THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS are stunning, beautiful, hilarious pieces written by one of America's most important young playwrights. We knew it was up to us to bring McCraney's voice and vision to Boston! Company One prides itself on producing daring material that challenges ourselves and our audience. This trilogy does that and more!
Some Content Courtesy of The McCarter Theatre Center.
Should not be missed!"
-The Boston Globe
-The Bay State Banner
-The Boston Globe
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-EdgeBoston