The Road Back: The Context Around Content

Managing Director Sara Young shares a peek into the world of content advisories.

It’s a beautiful time of year! Yes, it’s Spring (technically meteorological Spring, sometimes known in the Midwest as “mud season”). But for APT folks, it is keep-an-eye-on-the-mailbox time, because the Book of Summer is on its way! Tickets for the 2025 season go on sale to returning ticket buyers on March 17. It’s time to get serious about choosing your plays (that is, if you don’t come see all nine, which we highly encourage).

We always want to make sure the plays you choose are a good match for you. For some of us, that may simply mean choosing a comedy or a drama; a beloved Shakespeare or new-to-us contemporary piece. Some folks aren’t concerned about the content beyond the story itself. In fact, I love to go to a play knowing almost nothing about it – it’s a thrill to discover the play for the first time as it unfolds.

But we recognize there are plenty of people who need to avoid unwelcome surprises, as a matter of preference or to preserve their mental health. Some would prefer to avoid certain elements – rough language, for example. For some audience members, unexpected content could be a minefield of troubling memories that could risk leading to further trauma.

How can we make sure all audience members get (or don’t get) the information they need to have their own best possible APT experience?

This is something our staff in artistic, marketing and patron services have pondered quite a bit. The promotional copy on the website or in the Book of Summer isn’t meant to fill in every detail – its job is to give you a flavor of the play and, honestly, encourage you to buy tickets. When we include content warnings – for instance, “contains adult themes” or “contains adult language” – in the promotional copy, they tend to be rather general, to preserve the story for the audience who sees it live.

So if you do require more specific information, how do you get it?

The APT Box Office Staff is here for you. Before tickets go on sale, our box office managers prepare information about each play. They can fill you in on a play’s content and themes, including language, violence, sexual situations, loud noises, and much more. It’s a very detailed list. Box office staff are also briefed by APT artistic staff about the aesthetics of each production, so they are well-versed on elements like time-period, style, and casting. And special effects such as strobing lights and theatrical haze will be posted on individual play pages as we receive that information. If they can’t answer your questions, they’ll find the answer or connect you with someone who can. One caveat, though: If you’re purchasing tickets pre-season, there will be questions that can’t fully be answered. The creative process isn’t complete until the play opens, since much is discovered in the rehearsal process. For instance, we can only guess at a play’s run time until opening night.

Additional resources for your research include:

Director’s Notes and Reviews: After opening, you can also look at the Notes tab on the Play Pages on the APT website to find more resources that will give you insight into the production. The Director’s Notes for all the season’s plays are also available in the season playbill, available at the theater or online after June 9. You can find an example of this on the 2024 Much Ado About Nothing page.

Your Own Research: Nothing substitutes for your own research. Synopses of most of our plays are available online, along with other resources depending on the play. You might also consider reading the play before you see it – most scripts are available for purchase, either from APT or various sources you can find online.

And a final reminder: if you buy tickets and subsequently realize the play isn’t for you, you’re welcome to exchange for a play that’s more suited to you. Exchanges are available free of charge until 4 PM the day before your show. See more details here.

Not every play is for everyone. And that’s ok. We want your trip to APT to be the best it can be: joyful, thoughtful, and as nuanced as each individual who makes the journey to see these plays. We hope you enjoy every stanza and verse you experience here, and knowing what you want – and don’t want – out of a story is the first step toward a great outing to these woods.