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One of the variety of fees included on the typical University of Maine student bill is the Unified Fee. This rather vague name implies that this fee encompasses a variety of smaller fees that are then “unified.” The charge of $228 for students taking six to 11 credit hours and of more than $550 for those taking 12 or more covers services like the Library, Financial Aid and Memorial Union. But that fee also funds student complimentary tickets at the Maine Center for the Arts. Therefore, if students are essentially charged for these two tickets, they may want to be aware of how to take advantage of them, because many rarely or never do so.
The MCA box office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at least an hour before any given show. At any of these times, students can go into the MCA and request tickets to almost any of the regular season performances, as long as they are enrolled in at least six credit hours.
However, many events at the MCA are not in the regular season. Some shows, such as the recent Bob Marley and Maroon5 performances, are actually privately run shows. For these shows, a private company rents the auditorium for the performance. This means the act is “in it for the money,” according to Sue Melvin, who runs the MCA Box Office. Accordingly, these showings are not on the MCA yearly calendar, and comp tickets cannot be used. However, the MCA always tries to get reduced prices for students to rental shows – a Maroon5 ticket was $8 with your MaineCard , $16 without.
There are a few performances that just cost too much. Melvin said that “CATS” is “horrendously expensive,” and that is why comp tickets were not available. This show is now sold out.
Though a student does not have to pay outright for the two tickets, they are costing students money. Comp tickets for shows like “Othello,” “Lahey” or the “Music Man,” are funded by the unified fee every student on campus pays. However, Melvin said that not as many students as the MCA would like take advantage of their tickets.
If comp tickets are not used, prices can get pretty hefty. They vary by show. “Manhattan Transfer,” which is now sold out, was $42 for a downstairs center seat. Seats for Yamato, a Japanese Taiko Drum Ensemble at the MCA on Nov. 21, are still open, and without using a comp ticket are up to $28.
If students run out of comp tickets, they can still receive a $2 discount on regular season shows. Also, if students decide on the day of a performance that they want to go, rush tickets can be purchased for $5, if seats are still available. According to Melvin, rush seats are often well positioned.
Students can go into the box office starting the first day of the semester to receive comp tickets for that semester’s showings. The box office will always give students the best seats available at the time of request. That means they will not be stuck way on the side and way in the back simply because they used comp tickets.
Students can receive two comp tickets a semester, and may use them for two different showings or for two seats at one performance. Or, if they are not going to use the tickets themselves, students can let family use them or give them as gifts.
Unlike regularly purchased tickets, students do not have the option of ordering tickets on-line. They must go to the box office and bring their MaineCards. Though comp tickets can be used the night of a performance, Melvin suggests that students get them early.
The season schedule is planned out in advance. The MCA’s schedule can be accessed at MaineCenterfortheArts.org or by calling 800-MCA-TIXX.
The MCA houses 1600 seats, and for students paying $228 or even more than $550 a semester for the unified fee, two of those should be theirs, so take advantage of them.
