Have you ever been enjoying a show at KSC’s Redfern Arts Center, only to be disappointed by the lack of snacks or drinks made available during intermission? Redfern attendees won’t have to worry about this dilemma any longer, as concessions will now be made available in the lobby during Redfern events this year.
Redfern Audience Services Coordinator Rin Nichols said she has been very excited to work on the project of bringing concessions back into the Redfern this year, with most of the work happening throughout the summer. She also revealed the variety of concessions that will be available, which will range from popcorn to drinks to candy.
Additionally, Nichols said there will be concession vouchers available for purchase at the Redfern box office, which students will be able to purchase to give the gift of free concessions to their friends.
Along with providing refreshments for attendees, Nichols said one of the goals of providing concessions is to raise more money for the Redfern. “It’s really going to help us bring in some more funding for the Redfern,” said Nichols. “With everybody struggling so hard right now, it’s really going to be helpful and we’re very optimistic.”
Nichols said the Redfern worked alongside Chartwells, the dining service that provides all of KSC’s on-campus food options, to bring in supplies for the concessions table. “It’s been a lot of little things to bring together an awesome project,” she said.
Performing Arts Program Manager and Artistic Director of the Redfern Stephanie Bass Abrams shared her excitement about concessions being available this year. “I’ve been a patron here myself, before I even worked here, where I came out at intermission and was like, ‘Can I get a snack or a drink?’ and it’s like a ghost town,” she said. “We know that students and patrons are going to be really excited about this.”
“We’re trying to really think about our audience’s experience,” she added. “You’re coming here to the Redfern and you’re going to see something really great, but you’re also having a great experience from the moment you’re coming on campus or entering our building.”
Abrams also explained that audience members still will not be able to bring any food or drinks into the theaters themselves, and that all concessions will have to be enjoyed in the lobby during intermissions.
Another person who shared their excitement about the return of concessions was junior Gracie Brisiel, who is a student worker at the Redfern box office. “I’m really excited about concessions. We have a lot of things coming back this year, we also have the Presenting Series, which is very exciting,” she said. “I think concessions is a great way to bring in more people to the Redfern and make it a more enjoyable, real theater-like experience.”
Nichols said the new concessions table will make its debut during a free popcorn social in the Redfern lobby on Wednesday, Sep. 16. Following this, concessions will be available during a live event for the first time during the weekend of Cirque Alfonse shows beginning on Thursday, Sep. 17.
Justin Dearborn can be contacted at
jdearborn@kscequinox.com
