Is this in bad taste? Shutdown sale

[inception]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 8:12am

I received an email this morning from DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company because I got put on their email list after I bought a ticket to see their production of the Wild Duck next month:

"If you've been affected by the government shutdown, we'd like to extend an offer to you—a fixed rate ticket for a limited time. Use code 45TIX for $45 tickets to Merry Wives this week and select performances of The Wild Duck's first week. "

Does this seem a bit in bad taste?  It's nice to get discount codes, but if a government worker is affected by the shutdown isn't their first concern how will I pay the rent? Or how will I pay for groceries?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 8:17am

I don’t know that it’s in bad taste, but it’s not that good a discount.  $15 or $25 would be more helpful.

It’s also just a discount code than anyone could use, right?

Updated On: 10/2/25 at 08:17 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 8:21am

Considering the remaining tickets (from what I saw) go up to $130+, I actually think this is a nice thing to do. Sometimes theatre is a good diversion for people and if they wanna offer the lot of their tickets for the remainder of the run at a deep discount, someone will buy them.

Its not like when Scott Rudin basically did a $50 fire sale on tickets to all his running shows (Mockingbird, WSS, and others) at the beginning of the pandemic when people were slowly beginning to lock down before the official shutdown.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 8:46am

Sort of tangentially related, but I wonder how much DC area theatres have been impacted by the federal firings earlier this year and now the shutdown.

[TapDanceGal]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 9:15am

Shutdown specials happen for every government shutdown. It can be anything from all-day Happy Hour, discount sporting event tickets, theatre tix, free pastries or coffee, etc. 

[TarHeelAlan]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 9:55am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "It’s also just a discount code than anyone could use, right?"

FWIW, the fine print in the email does say "*Code 45TIX is subject to availability with proof of valid federal ID." However, I just did a test purchase of a single ticket and got all the way to the final purchase page with no mention of a federal ID. No idea how they would enforce it if purchased online, but maybe at the box office. 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 11:52am

I don't think we have "bad taste" in this country anymore. Or rather, that's all we have.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 12:17pm

Not in bad taste whatsoever. DC is a city of over 700,000 people and the city’s economy still needs to function. Walk into any bar or restaurant and there will be shutdown deals. Businesses still need people. Happens every shutdown here. 

[msmp]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 2:14pm

It's pretty much standard to see discounts in the greater DC area when shutdowns happen, as others have noted; when I was living down there during the 2010s shutdowns, my federal worker friends had an almost wistful attitude towards them. People are going through a hard time and are looking for distraction on a budget, maybe even more so this time given the uncertainty surrounding more firings or retroactive pay not being granted.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 3:30pm

This thread exists solely to reemphasize the point that there is NOTHING that can ever happen in the world of theater, no matter how well intentioned it may be, that it won't cause someone to bitch and moan about it.

 

[LetTheSunshineIn2]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 7:47pm

Definitely typical to see discounts during a shutdown.  Arena Stage offered free tickets to the Weds matinee on Damn Yankees to federal workers.  I think it's a win-win.  Helps the theaters fill their seats and gives the people who are affected by the shutdown something to do to take their mind off of things at a reasonable price.  

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 7:52pm

sounds like a Ken Davenport idea 

[EmceeHammer]

Posted: 10/2/25 at 9:17pm

Promoting the shutdown with AI slop of Jeffries and Schumer in stereotypical Mexican costumes is in bad taste.

This is just standard marketing, if a bit hand fisted.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/3/25 at 1:12am

JSquared2 said: "This thread exists solely to reemphasize the point that there is NOTHING that can ever happen in the world of theater, no matter how well intentioned it may be, that it won't cause someone to bitch and moan about it."

 

^^^^That part.