Precious theatergoers across the city are being wooed to linger (and drop more cash monies) at the venue before and after shows with the allure of local, artisanal concessions, the New York Times reported yesterday. Tumabdor chocolates, Ceci-Cela pastries, and hummus and lentil stew are showing up at theaters like Classic Stage and St. Ann's Warehouse, who are partnering with local restaurants and producers to provide the high-end snacks.
"People aren't only coming to the theater at the last minute," said Susan Feldman at St. Ann's, which has long offered selections from nearby Rice. "They love being in our lobby." One St. Ann's Yelper wrote, "Other notes: $20 rush tickets an hour before the show in most cases, no water fountain, and Rice bar serves food in the lobby, but food and drink is usually not allowed in the theater, so don't buy two thinking you're going to double fist it through a Druid performance."
Of course, upscale concessions aren't really a new thing—Film Forum doles out Jacques Torres chocolate bars and Illy espresso, the Angelika has a giant lobby cafe with vegan cupcakes and Japanese tea, and Landmark Sunshine offers 10 different popcorn toppings to enjoy in its second-floor lounge.
And since these theaters aren't chains, there's little danger of the calorie police cracking down on those delicious treats. Because nothing goes better with a thought-provoking, boundary-pushing performance than butter-heavy, sustainably sourced croissants.
