Why Audience Development, and why now?

Following a successful launch during the 2023/24 season, Celebrity Series continues to closely examine elements of our business model that serve as barriers for inclusivity, including:  

  • Price accessibility, particularly for younger audience members;  
  • Geographic access for audiences outside of Boston/Cambridge and the immediately surrounding suburbs;  
  • Historical underrepresentation of BIPOC audiences among the Celebrity Series subscriber base, and among the larger arts-going audience in Boston; and  
  • The lack of community for newer audience members at Celebrity Series performances.  

    As a first step in addressing these barriers, Celebrity Series has centered the concept of “authentic welcoming” as an organizational value, seeking to make Celebrity Series performances a place where all people can feel a sense of belonging and connection through the performing arts.  

    By supporting the Audience Development Fund, you will make possible the following activities:  

  • Continuing the $35 under 35 program to provide Boston’s young professionals with a sense of community and belonging at Celebrity Series performances.  In 2024/25, the $35 under 35 program will include targeted social media marketing efforts, pre-performance events, and special pricing to entice young arts-lovers who are no longer eligible for student discounts.    
  • Continue engaging more partners and influencers in BIPOC communities to continue driving new audiences to Celebrity Series performances, particularly those historically underrepresented among our audience.
  • Increasing the number of complimentary/reduced-price tickets for first-time attendees to popular performances, thereby ensuring that new Celebrity Series attendees have the best-possible first performance experience in great seats.
  • Further emphasizing group-sale and student-rush initiatives through grassroots marketing efforts, outbound sales, and enhanced publicity.
  • Doubling down on our social media outreach and targeted advertising by exploring new platforms, groups, and methods of outreach.
  • Enhancing and building a best-in-class membership program that will provide a modern alternative to subscription including members-only early ticketbuying periods, minimal processing fees, and other opportunities to build connection among the membership base such as special receptions and other offers. 


Audience Development Initiative: Recognition Overview

In gratitude for your support of the Audience Development Initiative in the 2024/25 season, donors will receive the following opportunities for recognition; please note that Audience Development Initiative gifts do not count toward Celebrity Series membership levels.  

  • Designated listing in the 2024/25 digital program books at all Neighborhood Arts and Subscription Series performances for donors at any level.
  • Designated listing at celebrityseries.org for donors at any level.
  • Designated listing in the 2024/25 BRAVO! Annual Report for donors of $1,000 or more.
  • Specialized impact report in summer 2025 reporting on what your gift achieved during the 2024/25 season, including reporting on the following measures of success:
  1. The number of new-to-file households acquired during the 2024/25 season and qualitative feedback about how welcome they felt at Celebrity Series performances.  
  2. The number of $35 under 35 participants during the 2024/25 season and qualitative feedback as to the perceived value of the program.
  3. An increase in the number of Student Rush tickets sold in the 2024/25 season.
  4. The number of new members recruited by Celebrity Series in the 2024/25 season. 
     

For more information on the Audience Development Initiative, and to learn how to support, please contact Emily Borababy at eb@celebrityseries.org or 617.733.3294. 

Thank you to our 2024/25 Audience Development supporters

Listing as of September 13, 2024. 
 
Paul Belanger & Teri Groome 
Amy & Joshua Boger 
Diana Bourgeois 
Fernadina Chan & Albert Wong
Dr. Joan Helpern Goldberg
Kate & Tom Kush, in honor of Joshua Boger 
Marilyn Miller 
Samuel & Gretchen Shubrooks 
Dr. Michael & Brenda Silverman 
Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy 
Lorraine Vekens

 

Thank you to our 2023/24 Audience Development supporters

Listing as of June 30, 2024. 
 
Anonymous (3) 
Paul Belanger & Teri Groome 
Amy & Joshua Boger 
Diana Bourgeois 
Fernadina Chan & Albert Wong 
John & Barbara Chickosky
Peggy Hanratty
Yvette & Lawrence Hochberg 
Heidi Hutton 
Margot LeStrange & Andrew Stern 
Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation 
Theresa C. McLoud, MD 
Marilyn Miller 
Charlotte & Gordon Moore 
Stephen C. Perry & Oliver Radford 
Beth Pinals & Bill Jewett 
Samuel & Gretchen Shubrooks 
Dr. Michael & Brenda Silverman 
Susan & Michael Thonis 
Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy 
Lorraine Vekens
Bruce Zetter & Sally Ourieff

Contact

Emily Borababy

Chief Advancement Officer