Lack of musicals hurting broadway work force?

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/27/25 at 6:16pm

With so few new musicals for the spring how many jobs are lost? Orchestra, dancers, ensembles, music departments, choreographers, back stage support staff and others. The plays are all smaller casts and crews. Musicals are also the life blood of touring and licensing. 

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 06:16 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/27/25 at 10:41pm

It's far too early in the season to assume that Shubert will book zero new musicals for the spring (even if, as of this writing, there are none announced). In a thin fall season, Shubert has housed 7 of 15 shows that opened to date, including 3 musicals, and they'll have a large musical revival (CATS) in the spring. 

The number of Broadway employment weeks for 2025-26 may be a bit down, but these things tend to be cyclical. Broadway also currently has ~17 shows that have been running more than a year, plus three from last season that should pass the one-year mark. While musicals do often generate more jobs than plays, the fact of the matter is Shubert owes nobody a job. And, if Shubert had a free-for-all for booking a theatre, we'd have multiple NERDS situations every season.

There's enough product in the pipeline that there shouldn't be any concern for touring markets and licensing.

Updated On: 11/27/25 at 10:41 PM

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/27/25 at 10:56pm

 

Just a bad economy to have less broadway jobs in. You are correct they don't owe anyone a theater. But they are part of an ecosystem.  Just an observation. 

 

 

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "It's far too early in the season to assume that Shubert will book zero new musicals for the spring (even if, as of this writing, there are none announced).In a thin fall season, Shubert has housed 7 of 15 shows that opened to date, including 3 musicals, and they'll have a large musical revival (CATS) in the spring.

The number of Broadway employment weeks for 2025-26 may be a bit down, but these things tend to be cyclical. Broadway also currently has~17shows that have been running more than a year, plus three from last season that should pass the one-year mark. While musicals do oftengenerate more jobs than plays, the fact of the matter is Shubert owes nobody a job. And, if Shubert had a free-for-all for booking a theatre, we'd have multiple NERDS situations every season.

There's enough product in the pipeline that there shouldn't be any concern for touring markets and licensing."

 

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 10:56 PM