(Thanks to the Sharon Playhouse for requesting Berkshire on Stage address this issue. Their leadership, along with leaders from the Mac-Haydn Theatre, Dorset Theatre Festival, Berkshire Theatre Group, Barrington Stage Company, Harbinger Theatre, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, and others were most helpful in providing important information and answering questions for this article.)
Everyone knows to keep their eyes open when buying tickets to major concerts, sporting events, and Broadway shows, but are you equally careful when buying such things locally? The answer is probably no because this region has a reputation for that small-town neighborliness. And our local entertainment and sports venues are very friendly and accommodating. They want your business and they want you to have so much fun that you come back again and again.
But scammers have found ways to insert themselves between you, your hard-earned money, and local theaters so that nether you nor they know until you arrive at the venue with bogus tickets in hand, or try to claim reservations that don’t exist at the box office. In this scenario everyone loses – you and the presenting organization. No money, no tickets, no happy friendly feeling. Everyone loses.
Here’s some advice on what to look out for and how to protect yourself when making online ticket purchases.
Ticket Fraud Methods
1. You buy a non-existent ticket
You arrive at the theatre, ticket in hand, present it to the usher and they tell you there is no Row Z in this theatre. The scammers get all the money and you and the theatre get nothing.
2. Another paying customer is in your seat
Two people have purchased the same seat – one legitimately and one from a scammer. The theatre only received one of those payments and now has two distraught customers on their hands.
3. The top ticket price is $75 but you paid $150
In this case you legitimately have a ticket for a real seat, but the scammers have $75 of your money. The theatre doesn’t have it, the scammers do.
How To Avoid Ticket Fraud as a Ticket Buyer
1. Buy with a credit/debit card
You can usually get your money back
2. Call (or visit) the box office
Real humans earn a real salary working in the box office, and those good people will make sure all your questions are answered and that you get the best seat you can afford. No one there will scam you. Call the box office.
3. Language to Look Out For
“The theatre will tell you they’re sold out but I have a few tickets available…”
“I bought expensive front row seats for me and my grandmother but she had a stroke so I have to sell these for whatever I can get…”
“I know you really want to see this show and they’ve just released a few more seats…”
Trust us, the theaters wants an enthusiastic audience member in every single seat for every single performance. If they say they’re sold out, they mean it! If there’s a wait list at the box office, it’s legit.
4. Make sure you don’t fall for a “Sponsored Link”
On the left is a screenshot of a search for the Berkshire Theatre Festival. Notice that the first link offered clearly states that it is “sponsored”. Don’t click on that link. In fact, use that button that says “Hide sponsored result”. The right hand screen shot shows the legit link to the BTG’s website.
While some theaters do buy such links, clicking on a “sponsored link” will often take you to a dummy website. It may be a direct clone of the company’s real site, but its not theirs and they will not get the money from any purchase you make. Nor will the tickets you purchase be legit. Call the box office.
Here at Berkshire on Stage we will NEVER send you to a “sponsored link”!
5. Look for the “This is the ONLY place to buy tickets” box on the website
Here’s the statement the Berkshire Theatre Group uses. Of course its just as easy for a scammer to post one of these as it is for the theatre, but not all of them think of it. A notice like this is a good sign, but if you’re unsure, call the box office.
6. Check the top ticket price you can expect to pay
At the end of this article there’s a list of what we believe to be the top ticket prices at all the theaters where Berkshire on Stage will be reviewing during the summer of 2026. While tickets to Broadway shows cost hundreds of dollars, tickets to Berkshire region events are generally well under $150 (unless the event is a fund raising gala). If you are quoted a price over $150 for a single ticket, ask questions. Call the box office.
If You Are the Victim of Ticket Fraud
1. Call your credit/debit card company and your bank
2. Report the issue to the Attorney General of the state where the theatre is located
3. Below are two additional additional resources to use, recommended by the Mac-Haydn Theatre:
FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://www.ic3.gov
Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
Top Ticket Prices 2026 (in descending order)
DISCLAIMER: These are the top ticket prices as listed on the companies’ websites on June 7, 2026. There are often a few additional dollars in service fees. The companies may change these prices, but this list gives you a reasonable idea of the top dollar you should pay at each venue. In each case prices quoted are for the company’s biggest show – a musical, if offered – on a Saturday night. That is usually the most expensive seat in any house.
| Berkshire Opera Festival | $135 all performances* |
| Berkshire Theatre Group (Colonial) | $130 (VIP) $105 (Premium) $85 (standard) |
| Berkshire Theatre Group (Unicorn) | $115 (Premium) $95 (standard) |
| Barrington Stage Company | $124.80 |
| Shakespeare & Company | $104 |
| Capital Repertory Theatre | $103.50 |
| Weston Theater Company | $89 |
| Dorset Theatre Festival | $78 |
| WAM Theatre | $61.14 |
| Adirondack Theatre Festival | $60 |
| Mac-Haydn Theatre | $59 |
| Chester Theatre Company | $58 |
| Sharon Playhouse | $55 |
| Ancram Center for the Arts | $49 (general), $29 (sponsored) |
| Great Barrington Public Theater | $47.50 |
| Living Room Theatre | $40 |
| Fort Salem Theater | $38 |
| Hubbard Hall Theatre Company | $35 |
| Bridge Street Theatre | $30 |
| Double Edge Theatre | $28.52 |
- Berkshire Opera Festival also offers $20 tickets for all performances, which makes their ticket prices both the highest and lowest in the region!
Discounts
Creating a list of the lowest ticket prices would be MUCH more complicated because many theaters offer a variety of discounts for students, seniors, veterans, holders of EBT cards, local residents, etc. ALWAYS explore the box office section of each company’s website.
Pay-It-Forward
In order to offer lower prices to patrons with limited budgets, some companies offer “Pay It Forward” pricing where you, if you have the capacity, can pay a higher than average price in order to subsidize a discount for someone else. This is a great system that really does work to broaden the scope of who can see theatre.
Pay-What-You-Will
Some companies offer at least one “Pay-What-You-Will” performance for each production. These are often previews or week night performances. “Pay-What-You-Will” is a great way to get a bargain, but also a great way to support the theatre by paying MORE than you normally would if you’re able!