Frequently Asked Questions
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What are your office hours?
Our theatre office (also the box office) is open Monday through Friday from 10am until 5pm. During performance weekends the box office is open Saturdays from 4pm until 7:30pm and Sundays from 12pm until 2:30pm. Keep in mind that office employees may not be available to take your call within the 30 minutes prior to show time.
I keep getting voicemail. How can I speak with someone?
Our office only has two phone lines and can get very busy with reservations during popular shows. We encourage everyone to leave a detailed message in the appropriate voicemail box. Messages are checked as often as possible throughout the day and all phone calls are returned as soon as possible.
Can I contact you via e-mail?
The office staff can be reached via e-mail at info@wacocivictheatre.org. However, we ask that all ticket reservations be made over the phone or in person.
How much does it cost to see a show?
Adult tickets are priced at $18 for musicals and $15 for plays. We offer a discount to students (under 18 or with a college ID) and to seniors (55 and older.) These tickets are $16 for musicals and $13 for plays. All Opening Night tickets (a pre-show reception is included) are available for $20 (Adults) & $18 (Students/Seniors). A discount is available to groups of 10 or more. For more information contact the box office or see our ticket policies.
Are tickets reserved or general admission?
Tickets for all six shows of our main stage season are reserved seating. Additional performances such as fundraisers, reader’s theatre, and studio shows are typically general admission, meaning seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. All tickets may be purchased in advance and at the door (if available).
How do I reserve a ticket?
Ticket reservations will be accepted via phone or in person during office hours. We are located at 1517 Lake Air Dr. near the Heart of Texas Fairgrounds. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 10am-5pm. During performance weekends we are also open Saturdays 4pm-7:30pm and Sundays 12pm-2:30pm. Keep in mind that office employees may not be available to take your call within the 30 minutes prior to show time.
To reserve tickets or contact the box office staff by phone, please call 254-776-1591. Kindly leave a message if you don’t reach us right away and we will make every effort to call you back as soon as possible. When reserving tickets via phone message, please leave your name, phone number, date for which you’d like to reserve tickets, and the number of tickets needed. Note that a reservation is not final until payment is received. Please review our ticket policies for further information.
Do I have to pay with a credit card?
No, you may come in person or even mail your payment and reservation to us if there is enough time to do so. However, we require that all seats not pre-paid be reserved with a valid credit card number. See our ticket policies for more information.
Do you offer refunds?
The short answer is no. Please refer to our ticket policies for more information.
Can I exchange my tickets for another performance?
Tickets can be exchanged for free with advance notice of at least 48 hours, depending on availability. We cannot exchange tickets from one show to another. Please see our ticket policies for more information.
Can I buy a season ticket?
We have a variety of donor levels (subscriptions) which include tickets to each show of our season among other benefits. The Member level is $50 for one ticket per show. We welcome those wishing to purchase multiple memberships. Other donor levels offer anywhere from two to six season tickets plus ticket vouchers for friends and family to use throughout the season. We also offer Holiday subscriptions at $25 each through the month of January which entitles you to one ticket to each of the final three shows of our season. Call the box office for more information on subscriptions.
I received an “Admit One” voucher. Is this my ticket?
No. This is only a voucher redeemable for a ticket. You must call the box office to reserve your ticket. Please be sure to inform the box office staff that you are redeeming a voucher when you call to reserve.
I received or won a certificate that entitles me to tickets or a subscription. What do I do?
Call the box office or mail your completed certificate back to us (if the certificate provides space for further information to be filled in). We will then reserve tickets for the desired performance(s). Please call to reserve seats promptly before the expiration date because tickets are subject to availability and we cannot guarantee seats that have not been reserved.
What time should I arrive for a performance?
Friday and Saturday evening performances begin promptly at 7:30pm unless there is still a line at the box office window. The doors will open for seating at 7pm. Sunday matinees begin at 2:30pm, with doors opening at 2pm. It is a good idea for those with tickets in hand to arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time (sometimes referred to as curtain). Those needing to claim tickets at the box office should plan on arriving at least 15 to 20 minutes prior to curtain.
What if I arrive late for a performance?
If a show is not sold out, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the house manager and may have to wait for an appropriate time to be seated. As a courtesy to our other patrons, latecomers may be seated in a designated section until intermission, at which time they may take their reserved seats. In the event of a sold-out show, we reserve the right to sell unclaimed non-subscriber tickets to those waiting at the door 10 minutes prior to curtain. Refunds will not be offered, so please anticipate arriving ahead of time. Please also refer to our ticket policy regarding unclaimed tickets.
How long is intermission?
Intermission is 15 minutes.
How long is the show?
This depends on the show. Generally most shows run 2 to 2 ½ hours with intermission, however, if you need more specific information please call the box office. Because dress rehearsals take place right before opening night, the box office staff will not have a definite show-length until the Wednesday or Thursday before. Also note that unlike the cinema, many factors can change the length of a live performance.
Do you sell concessions?
Yes, during intermission. We do allow refreshments in our theatre, however, please use care and your best judgment when allowing youth to handle soda outside of the lobby.
Do you have wheelchair accessible seating?
Yes, however we are limited to a small section of seating (Section P in Gallery B). It is important that you call ahead to make sure this seating is available for the performance you’d like to attend.
Is my child old enough to attend a performance?
This may depend on the child and the show that is being performed. Our theatre asks that every person attending a show purchase a ticket. Infants will not be allowed in the theatre for a performance. Small children may sit on a lap, but still require the purchase of ticket. Generally children under three do not have the ability to sit through a theatrical production and can disturb other patrons. This is true even with family-friendly shows. Only you can know if your child will be able to sit through the performance without disrupting you or others, so use your best judgment when bringing a child to the theatre.
We include ratings for our shows in our advertisements, on our website, and in our brochure. The Board of Directors do their best to rate shows on a number of factors, including language and adult themes. Keep in mind that even though a show may have a G or PG rating, this does not mean that your child will be interested in the subject matter or maintain their attention for the length of the performance. You may contact our box office personnel to ask questions about the script. Also, a little research goes a long way- play reviews and summaries can often be found online, scripts can sometimes be found in your local library, and sometimes a movie has been made that resembles the play (note, however, that changes are often made when adapting a play to cinema format or visa versa).
Are all of your shows child or family friendly?
As a community theatre, we try to offer a variety of shows that will appeal to the diverse members of our community. Throughout our main stage season we include two musicals and four straight plays. We like to intersperse tried and true favorites with one or two lesser known productions. Not all shows will be appropriate for children. However, productions in our main stage season will be suitable for the majority of our community as we strive to bring quality theatre to Waco.
Fundraising and other performances at the Waco Civic Theatre are also given ratings. For these productions we attempt to select plays that would not normally find a home in our main stage season. They may be less recognizable, written by local or lesser-known playwrights, be less traditional in their approach to theatre, or contain adult language or themes.
May I take photographs or record a performance?
No. Recording a performance is prohibited by law and photographs are distracting for the actors on stage. Actors will appear in the lobby after the performance, at which time they may be approached for photographs.
Do you make changes to the script?
Copyright laws prohibit us from making any changes to a script. Dialogue and music are performed as written, with no additions or deletions unless special permission is granted by the publisher. We make great effort to perform all plays and musicals in a way that preserves the original intent of the author or authors.
Do you offer workshops for adults or children?
The Waco Civic Theatre does not currently offer programs specifically for children. However, the Waco Children’s Theatre is in residence at the Waco Civic Theatre during the summer. The Children’s Theatre does run workshops and performances here and elsewhere throughout the year. However, they are a separate organization from the Waco Civic Theatre. More information on the Waco Children’s Theatre and how to contact them can be found at www.wacochildrenstheatre.com.
We at the Waco Civic Theatre are hoping to offer workshops or information sessions to the community in the future. Contact the office to offer suggestions for the topics you’d like to see covered in a workshop, and/or to be put on our e-mail and mailing list so that we can keep you informed of upcoming events.
How do I audition?
Auditions are held at least 5 to 6 weeks prior to the opening of a production. Audition dates are listed on our website, at the theatre, and advertised in the Waco Tribune-Herald. Contact the box office to be put on our audition e-mail list and receive notices for upcoming opportunities.
Auditions will usually require an appointment, so call the box office to reserve a time slot. Production staff and directors may have varying requirements for their production. Typically, however, an audition includes a 30-second monologue, a headshot (any photo that clearly shows who you are and what you look like), and a theatrical resume (a list of all experience and talents related to the theatre). In addition to the above, musical auditions also require that one sing at least 16 bars of a song.
How do I apply for a production position or sign up to work behind the scenes?
Production staff are chosen by the Board of Directors for each production. Applications are accepted prior to each season. Directors, set designers, choreographers, and musical directors are required to submit proposals for the shows on which they are applying to work. Contact the office for more information.
Many volunteers are needed behind the scenes of each production and we would like your help. If you audition but are not cast, we encourage and appreciate your work backstage. Audition forms ask you to list any or all areas of interest. If you’re not a performer, we can always use help building sets, making costumes, and those willing to be on the crew backstage during the performance. Contact the office to find out how you can help for the next production.
I would like to give my time to help the Waco Civic Theatre. How do I get involved?
Your time is most appreciated at the Waco Civic Theatre. The possibilities are endless. You can help in the pre-production process for any of our shows or work during the show itself. We can put you on a mailing list to receive e-mail notices from the theatre when we do clean-up or organizational days. You can usher the night of a performance and see the show for free. There is much more you can do and we appreciate your ideas on ways you or others can pitch in. Call or e-mail the office with your interests and we will make sure that you are referred to the appropriate person. Also, we’d like to encourage you to come to our annual meeting and visit with our Board and subscribers.
Do you pay the members of your cast and crew?
Actors, Assistant Stage Managers, and other members of our crew at the Waco Civic Theatre are volunteers and are not paid (except in the applause and accolades of our patrons). We do offer a small monetary stipend to some members of the production staff and orchestra members. Because we are a non-profit community theatre, payment is limited and in no way equals the amount of time, energy, and expertise offered by the many extraordinarily talented people who work to make each production a success.
If you have other questions or need further information, please feel free to contact the office at (254) 776-1591.
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