Star-Studded Discount at Durham Performing Arts Center
Employee discount offers savings at one of most attended theaters in U.S.
Karen Pochala-Peck started 2013 with a special treat - a girl's only trip to the Durham Performing Arts Center to see Constantine Maroulis in the Broadway musical "Jekyll & Hyde."
The January performance was the first time Pochala-Peck had seen a show at the performing arts center, also known as DPAC. She saved 10 percent on the ticket price by purchasing it through PERQS, Duke's employee discount program.
Read More"I used to watch American Idol when Maroulis was on it and really wanted to see him live on stage," said Pochala-Peck, assistant to the chair of the Department of Romance Studies at Duke. "My girlfriend and I decided this was not a bring your children or husband event. You can't drool over a good-looking guy when your husband is sitting next to you."
PERQS offers a 10 percent discount to select shows at the performing arts center throughout the year. Upcoming discounted shows include the "Blue Man Group," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Ghost."
Pochala-Peck said the cast of Jekyll & Hyde and luxurious facilities made the Sunday matinee feel like an extra-special occasion.
"DPAC is a really cool building and even though we sat near the back on the ground floor, we could hear and see everything," she said. "And I loved how they took the historical tale of Jekyll and Hyde and made it more contemporary."
Pochala-Peck felt lucky that the show came to Durham on a weekend when both she and her friend were free.
"With three teenage kids, my Sundays are usually encompassed by soccer, softball or volleyball games," she said. "The stars were in alignment in this case. I'm hoping they'll align again soon so I can see another show at DPAC."