Show-Biz Economics 101

Regarding Martin Bernheimer’s review of the “hot ticket” Dance Theatre of Harlem now playing at the Pasadena Civic (“Harlem Dances in Fagan’s Footsteps” (Feb. 3), one reason that the group is not attracting “the usual ballet aficionados in large numbers” is that the ticket prices for any event sponsored by Ambassador Auditorium are excessive . . . i.e., higher than any other college-based program.

Many patrons and students have gotten stung by showing up at highly desirable events often advertised with no ticket price given in the media, only to find that the evening was too steep for their pocketbooks.

For example, last year the Berlin Philharmonic (without Karajan) cost $90 per person--student tickets were somewhere between $40 and $60, I recall. Who can afford this?

EMMA LEWIS THOMAS

Professor of Dance History

UCLA