Ashley Woolridge On The Strategy Behind Filling The Lincoln Theatre

Paying triple for seats because you clicked the wrong “official” link is a gut punch, and it’s happening more than people realize. We sit down with Ashley Woolridge, marketing manager at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia, to explain how third-party ticket resellers create confusion for patrons and what you can do to buy tickets safely and confidently.From there, we zoom out to the real work of nonprofit theatre marketing in a small town. Ashley walks us through her path from box office to leading marketing efforts, and why there’s no such thing as a typical day. We talk artist coordination, building promo content when performers don’t have polished materials, writing press releases, running ticket giveaways, and shaping social media so audiences know what kind of night they’re walking into.We also dig into the bigger strategy questions: how do you market events beyond the venue’s “live music” reputation, like magic shows or theatrical performances, without wasting ad spend? And how do community partnerships change what success looks like, especially when events support multiple local nonprofits, like The Lincoln’s Juneteenth programming connected to Martin Luther King Jr.’s most notable speeches? Ashley shares why communication is the hidden engine behind every great show, and how patron feedback and performer recommendations can directly influence bookings.If you care about historic theatres, Marion Virginia events, nonprofit arts, or simply want a better night out without ticketing surprises, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves live shows, and leave us a review with the best performance you’ve ever seen at the Lincoln.To learn more about The Lincoln Theatre visit:https://www.TheLincoln.org/The Lincoln Theatre117 E. Main StreetMarion, Virginia  24354276-783-6092