Cultivating a Green Audience

While we as theatre artists can make more environmentally friendly choices when creating our productions, we can also encourage our audiences to be more green as well.

Here are a few tips on how audience members can be more environmentally aware while at the theatre:

• Consider your transportation options: Take public transportation to the theatre. Walk or bike when possible or look into car-pooling opportunities. Producers can help by providing information about these options on their website and other marketing materials.
• Don’t litter!: Use appropriate recycling and trash bins. Be especially considerate of cigarette butts.
• Recycle programs: If, after the performance, you will no longer need your program, return it to the company for use at future performances.
• Recycle postcards & flyers: If you liked the show, pass your postcard or flyer on to friends. Not only is this an environmentally friendly way to recycle, you are helping the production as well. Trust us they’ll appreciate it.  (If you didn’t enjoy the show, you can discretely place your postcard or flyer into the nearest recycle bin.)
• Help spread the word through green sources: Word of  Mouth, Facebook, Email, Twitter, etc. are fantastic marketing tools that can reach hundreds and sometimes thousands of people without using a single piece of paper. You can help your favorite Indie Theatre company by letting your network know about their amazing work.
• Visit Neighborhood Restaurants and Bars: When planning your evening out, patronize neighborhood restaurants and bars that incorporate green practices or purchase local and seasonal snacks and drinks. Again producers can help by providing a list of these neighborhood eateries on their website.
• Donate to Materials for the Arts: If you have unwanted items that could be useful to theatre companies and other artists, instead of throwing them out, consider donating them to Materials for the Arts.

Do you have other suggestions? Let us know.