Tickets to Ark performances typically range in price from $15-$50. The Ark offers a free concert series called Artist Spotlight on the fourth Tuesday of each month, and sometimes offers additional free shows as well, so nothing will stop you from experiencing great music at The Ark.
Ticket Information
There are several ways you can buy advance tickets for shows at The Ark: online, by phone, and in person.
Online
The best way to buy Ark tickets is online!
The University of Michigan’s Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO) provides ticketing for most Ark events. Click on any ticket link in our calendar or the BUY TICKETS ONLINE button found on each event detail page to purchase tickets. Service fees vary.
Tickets for most Ark produced shows at other venues (i.e. Michigan Theater, Royal Oak Music Theatre) are not available through MUTO or at The Ark box office. Please check our website event listings or venue websites for direct ticket links and information about these events at other venues.
By phone
You can also buy tickets by phone.
Purchase tickets by phone from the Michigan Union Ticket Office at (734) 763–8587 (763–TKTS). Mondays through Fridays from 11 am until 5 pm. Service fees vary.
Tickets for most Ark produced shows at other venues (i.e. Michigan Theater, Royal Oak Music Theatre) are not available by phone through the Michigan Union Ticket office. Please check our website event listings or venue website for direct ticket links and information about these occasional events at other venues. Tickets for The Moth events at The Ark are only available online at themoth.org.
In person
At The Ark Box Office
The Ark’s box office is open on evenings when there is a show. The box office is open from 30 minutes before showtime until 75 minutes after showtime. We kindly ask that you wait to purchase tickets to future shows until after we have admitted the line for that night’s show. There is no service charge for tickets purchased in person at The Ark.
At the Michigan Union Ticket Office
Mondays through Fridays from 11 am until 5 pm. Service fees vary. The MUTO ticket office is located on the ground level of the Michigan Union, 530 South State Street, on the University of Michigan’s central campus. Visit the MUTO website for latest updates.
To Redeem an Ark Gift Certificate
Ark gift certificates may be redeemed for tickets by visiting The Ark box office on evenings of scheduled performances, or call The Ark office at 734-761-1800 during business hours. Ark gift certificates can also be used for purchasing Ark memberships and concessions.
MUTO Service Fees
Need help? Call (734)-763-8587 for ticket information or email muto-tix@umich.edu for response within one business day.
Fee per ticket for phone & online orders:
Tickets less than $10 $2.00
Tickets $10–$19.99 $3.50
Tickets $20–$29.99 $4.00
Tickets $30–$39.00 $5.00
Tickets $40 and higher $6.50
Fee per order by phone & online:
USPS Mail $2.00
No charge for orders sent via email or held at will call
Fee per ticket sold in person at the MUTO counter:
$1.00 regardless of ticket price
No additional per order charge for tickets printed at the MUTO counter
Visit the MUTO website for latest updates.
Ticket Policies
General Admission Seating
The majority of seats at The Ark are general admission. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Reserved Seating
Most seats are general admission; some shows have 70 reserved seats available, typically priced at $8-$10 over the standard ticket price. A limited number of priority seats are also available for most shows to our members at the Producer ($500) Level and above. Read more information about Ark membership and corresponding benefits.
Accessible Seating
We recommend any patron with special seating needs purchase general admission tickets. The Ark reserves a handful of seats as a handicap section near the accessible entrance to the listening room for every show. View the accessible seating area here.
The Ark offers early entry to patrons with disabilities or who need extra time. Please arrive at the front door no earlier than 15 minutes before the doors open and ring the doorbell. The Ark staff will assist you in securing appropriate seating when you arrive. In addition to the handicap section referenced above, patrons entering early may utilize other general admissions sections if preferred. We ask our patrons who enter early to refrain from taking seats in the first two rows.
Doors Only Shows
Advance ticketing is not available for some Ark shows (e.g. RFD Boys, Open Stage). For these occasional events, tickets are available starting 1/2 hour before show time at The Ark’s box office.
Lining Up at The Ark
Both advance ticket holders and people buying tickets at the box office line up on the sidewalk on Main St. until doors open 1/2 hour before show time. (For popular shows, some concertgoers arrive as early as 1 1/2 hours in advance.) When doors open, ticket-holders may pass the box office and proceed to the ticket-taker through the door at the right and up the stairs.
Please be considerate of our neighbors by following these simple guidelines:
- Form a line along the curb to allow access to shops and other businesses.
- Make sure there’s a clear path for people walking down the street.
- Please put trash and cigarette butts in the appropriate containers.
We’re proud of Main Street and want to keep it looking great!
Ticket Timing
Ark shows go on sale to the public on a rolling basis each week. A listing of all new events going on sale a given week is included in The Ark’s email newsletter which is sent out each Thursday. To subscribe, sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of any page of our website. Please note, if a show is not sold out, tickets will go off sale 90 minutes before show time. Remaining tickets once a show is off sale will be available for purchase at The Ark box office when it opens, one half hour before show time.
Returns & Exchanges
The Ark does not accept ticket returns or exchanges.
Cancelled Shows
Effective 5/7/2020
For Ark events being cancelled with no current rescheduled date, tickets will be refunded at the original point of sale.
Tickets purchased via MUTO (online, by phone, and in person):
Purchases for cancelled shows made on a credit card will be automatically refunded by MUTO to the original card used. For purchases made in person with cash, please contact MUTO at muto-tix@umich.edu to receive your refund via check. Refunds for tickets purchased through MUTO will be for the face value of the ticket. MUTO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change the manner in which it exercises its discretion to offer refunds or to offer no refunds consistent with MUTO’s standard refund policy.
Tickets purchased in person at The Ark:
The Ark does not retain payment information for purchases at our box office. Please call The Ark office at 734-761-1800 during business hours or email info@theark.org to initiate your refund.
Rescheduled Shows
Effective 5/7/2020
Tickets purchased via MUTO (online, by phone, and in person):
For newly rescheduled Ark events (not previously refunded) tickets will be automatically exchanged and reissued for the rescheduled date. No additional service fees will be incurred. Patrons must present tickets with the correct date for admission to the rescheduled show.
Ticket Refunds, if desired, must be requested no later than 30 days from the date the rescheduled show was announced. Refunds for tickets purchased through MUTO will be for the face value of the ticket. Please send refund requests by email to muto-tix@umich.edu. MUTO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change the manner in which it exercises its discretion to offer refunds or to offer no refunds consistent with MUTO’s standard refund policy.
Tickets purchased in person at The Ark:
Please call The Ark office at (734) 761-1800 during business hours or email info@theark.org for ticketing assistance and questions.
Rebates & Discounts
Eligible Ark members, seniors and students may receive a $1 ticket rebate on Ark-produced shows happening at The Ark (does not apply to fundraisers or Ark-produced events at other venues, e.g. Michigan Theater, Hill Auditorium). Please show your membership card or ID at the door to receive your discount. Only one discount per person, please.
Group Ticket Sales
Concertgoers who wish to purchase 10 or more tickets to an Ark event may call The Ark’s business office at (734) 761-1800. We will process your ticket order by phone with no service fee.
Winning Tickets
Sometimes The Ark gives tickets away on radio stations or through newspapers. If you happen to be lucky enough to win, please note that we cannot exchange your tickets or put them in the name of a friend or relative should you be unable to attend. This is to protect you and to prevent someone else from claiming your tickets without your permission. Thank you.