Your Visit
Parking for Performances
Chautauqua offers parking across Route 394 from the Main Entrance. Shuttles are available to bring patrons from the Main Parking Lot to the Main Entrance.
Contact Information
Chautauqua Theater Company
P.O. Box 1428
Chautauqua, NY 14722
Ticketing Questions:
(716) 357-6250
General Theater Questions:
theater@chq.org
About Bratton Theater
The Bratton Theater was built in 1885 and is one of the oldest buildings on the grounds of CHQ. It was originally built as a schoolhouse for the summer program, and accordingly, its original name was “Normal Hall.” In 2000, with the advocacy of the Friends of Chautauqua Theater Company and a successful Institutional capital campaign, a major renovation took place, and the beautiful, 269-seat, newly named Bratton Theater was inaugurated. A significant accomplishment in preservation and renovation, the original laminated beam structure of Normal Hall is still in place today.
Under the direction of architect Mitchell Kurtz, the renovation garnered several awards, including:
- An Honor Award from the US Institute for Theatre Technology
- 2001 Adaptive Re-use/Historic Preservation Citation from the New York City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
- 2001 Design Award from the Buffalo/WNY Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Pick Your Price
A Pathway to Inclusivity and Community
In the spirit of turning Chautauqua Institution’s “gates into gateways,” Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) is committed to fostering inclusivity and promoting the power of storytelling. Recognizing the importance of accessibility and growing a wider audience, CTC will pilot a Pick Your Price (PYP) program this year.
This pilot program is part of a larger movement within the arts, aiming to ensure that people of all socio-economic means can experience and grow their appreciation for the arts.
Why is CTC introducing PYP performances?
CTC intends to empower individuals to make choices that align with their circumstances. This approach ensures that attending the theater remains within our community’s budgetary considerations: PYP enables people to contribute more generously if they wish or less, aligning with their budgets.
Additionally, CTC aims to…
- Engage Community and Bring People Together: The PYP program opens the Bratton stage doors, making theater accessible and reducing financial barriers. Supporters can also contribute more than the regular ticket price to support the company’s current and future programming. CTC believes theater unites people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, creating a space for individuals to share a collective experience that reduces socioeconomic and other divides.
- Broaden Horizons and Create a Sense of Belonging: CTC aims to increase access through the PYP program. We seek to bridge gaps by inviting all to experience the magic of live performances. This program fosters a sense of belonging among attendees, breaking down barriers by cultivating a larger theater community. It embodies CTC’s philosophy of inclusivity, captured in the phrase “How We Breathe Together,” emphasizing that backgrounds and financial circumstances do not solely define us.
- Civic Participation: PYP is about cultivating an inclusive theater and vibrant community. By fostering a sense of shared ownership, the program encourages each ticket holder to recognize their role in contributing to the overall vitality of the theater. All who participate have value, regardless of the price they paid for their ticket. Regardless of its monetary value, every contribution is crucial to the theater’s ecosystem.
How do I purchase my PYP tickets?
Use the form below to request instructions for purchasing PYP tickets. You will receive an email with discount code. You may use these codes at check out to receive the price you chose.
Have additional questions or feedback about this pilot program?
Please contact Makayla Santiago-Froebel at msantiago@chq.org
Are you interested in bringing a group?
Please contact Scott Beresford Beresford at sberesford@chq.org
Pick Your Price
Accessibility at Bratton Theater
Accessing the Theater
Bratton Theater’s main entrance is on Pratt Avenue and requires navigating several sets of stairs.
The theater’s accessible entrance is on Wythe Avenue; scooters and wheelchairs can enter the lobby area using the ramp at the rear of the building on Wythe (between Scott and Root Avenues).
There are a limited number of accessible parking spaces behind Norton Hall, on Root Avenue, and in the Main Lot. A valid state-issued accessible parking permit is required to park in these spaces, and standard parking rates apply.
A temporary drop-off pass can be obtained at any gate to let off a patron with limited mobility. We recommend entering through the Welcome Center Main Gate or the Turner Gate. Please note, all patrons entering the grounds must present a valid gate pass or theater performance ticket.
The Institution provides regularly scheduled complimentary transportation service to/from the Main Parking Lot and within the grounds during the season. Take the North bus or the Lake Tram to Bratton Theater. Live updates for trams and buses are available here during the summer assembly season.
Accessible restrooms are on the porch.
Patrons can rent mobility devices including scooters, wheelchairs and walkers at the Main Gate Welcome Center (1 Massey Ave, Chautauqua, NY, 14722). Advance reservations for mobility devices are highly encouraged. Please visit mobility.chq.org for more information.
Accessible Seating
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) and Chautauqua Institution are dedicated to the comfort of our patrons. Bratton Theater’s audience seating is at an incline with steps. To ensure there is adequate accommodation, the entire first row is designated as accessible seating.
Upon patron request, a wheelchair or other non-motorized mobility device can take the place of a theater chair.Individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, can purchase tickets for accessible seating. Individuals purchasing an accessible seat in the front row can purchase up to three additional companion seats in the first row.
Upon arrival at the theater, there are several options for getting to one’s assigned seat. Patrons can:
- Patrons can bring their own wheelchair into the theater if they purchased an accessible seat in the front row or choose to park their mobility scooters outside the theater so there is ample room for emergency evacuations.
- If a patron is unable to walk from the theater entrance to their seat, the scooter can be used to the first row and then transfer to an accessible seat.
Notes: Our ushers park the scooter and bring it back -at the end of the performance. Patrons can request a complimentary walker or wheelchair to transport between the entrance and their accessible seat.
Please be aware that our ushers are unable to lift patrons from mobility devices or seats or help patrons transfer between devices and seats due to liability concerns. Patrons unable to transfer independently may be eligible for an aide pass if they have a dedicated medical aide or companion. Refer here for information on the aide passes.
For more information about accessibility to Chautauqua Institution grounds, parking and more, visit accessibility.chq.org.
Sensory-Friendly Performances
CTC is joining other arts organizations worldwide to make select performances sensory-friendly for neurodiverse audiences. Patrons can expect low house lights, creating a more calming environment with softer and less intense stage lighting and reduced sound levels to minimize sudden loud noises or jarring sounds. Movement around the theater is encouraged as needed.
Assistive Listening System
An assistive listening system is available during performances. Patrons may bring their own equipment or use our complimentary equipment, available for loan during the performance. Please ask an usher for assistance.
Bratton Theater uses a radio frequency (RF) Assistive Listening System. The equipment is coil-compatible if the patron has a compatible jack/patch cord. Most users own several different sizes just in case. The system is also helpful for patrons who need hearing assistance but don’t have a hearing aid. For more technical information, visit the “Assistive Listening Systems” section at accessibility.chq.org.
Live Audio Descriptions
Live audio descriptions (LAD) are narrated depictions highlighting the crucial visual aspects of a theatrical presentation. These descriptions are read by a professional and seamlessly integrated into pauses within the dialogue, enhancing accessibility for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, those who are neurodiverse, or individuals with attention or processing diagnoses. LAD is a complimentary service.
Braille & Large Print Programs
Braille and large print programs are available upon request for performances at Bratton Theater. We kindly ask patrons to provide at least one week’s notice prior to your visit.
To request a braille or large print program, email accessibility@chq.org.
Additional Accommodations
The ChIf you require any additional accommodations that are not covered here, email accessibility@chq.org. Advance notice is always appreciated. autauqua Visual Arts (CVA) includes the School of Art, the galleries of the Strohl Art Center, the Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, the Melvin Johnson Sculpture Garden and the visual arts lecture series.