TXST School of Theatre, Dance and Film Celebrates Ticket Success with “Treasure Island”

By Niara Singleton

Blog Content Contributor

SAN MARCOS- Texas State University’s School of Theatre, Dance and Film closed its spring semester production of “Treasure Island,” adapted from the 1883 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story follows Jim Hawkins on a journey to find buried treasure aboard the Hispaniola.

School Director Sarah Maines said during a lecture that “Treasure Island” is the school’s best-selling play since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maines said several factors contribute to a show’s success at Texas State, including whether it is a musical or a straight play, title recognition and audience demographics.

University President Kelly Damphousse, along with Dean Flemming and Maines, implemented an initiative known as “The President’s Gift.” The program provides funding for productions and covers the cost of tickets for students. As a result, students receive one free ticket per music, theatre or dance performance.

Damphousse said the initiative was influenced by his upbringing. He said he had limited exposure to the arts while growing up in a fishing village in Canada and did not fully understand them until later in life. He said his perspective changed after meeting his wife, Beth, who introduced him to live performances.

Damphousse said he hopes students from all academic backgrounds will attend and appreciate the arts, including “how much skill it takes to do the things they do that look so easy.”

Maines and Damphousse said the initiative aligns with the university’s mission to expand student learning beyond their primary fields of study and increase exposure to the performing arts. Faculty members who previously required attendance at fine arts events have, in some cases, reconsidered those requirements because of potential financial burdens on students.

Maines said, “I think we…really miss an important element of what we’re trying to do here when we pull back on that requirement for students to expose themselves to these things that they don’t have much experience with…the free ticket helps mitigate the concern that faculty have of that additional financial cost,” adding that students may lack exposure to certain art forms without such opportunities.

Maines also said musicals tend to attract larger audiences than plays, reflecting broader industry trends. She noted that national tours are predominantly musicals and that familiarity plays a role in audience interest.

At Texas State, Maines said the musical theatre program has developed a strong reputation, contributing to consistent attendance. She added that audience awareness of performance locations may also affect attendance, as some theatergoers are less familiar with productions staged in the Theatre Center compared with the Performing Arts Center.

Maines said title recognition contributed to the success of “Treasure Island,” describing it as a well-known story that appeals to a wide range of audiences. She said its adventurous and imaginative elements may also attract viewers.

The department produces one play and one musical each semester. While plays have historically performed well, Maines said attendance declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, when audiences became more accustomed to streaming entertainment.

As in-person performances resumed, the department focused on recognizable titles and initiatives such as The President’s Gift to increase attendance. In recent years, the school has produced several works by William Shakespeare. Maines said “Romeo and Juliet,” staged in February of the previous year, was the second best-selling play, while “Treasure Island” “blew it out of the water.”

The production’s performance suggests continued interest in live theater. Despite the growth of streaming, Maines and Damphousse said audiences continue to respond to live performances and the unique experiences they offer.