20 shows on Christmas Day?! What?!

[JakeB]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 10:52am

I don't understand.. why does Broadway have 20 shows performing on Christmas Day? Does the subway still open and stuff? Over here in the UK nothing of entertainment/public services opens Christmas Day - occasionally the odd cinema but no theatres, shops, buses, trains. Do the prices soar for the day (both tickets and services)?

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 10:54am

I guess they still have shows playing on Christmas day because not everyone celebrates that holiday.

I know I like to state the obvious

Updated On: 11/2/03 at 10:54 AM

[JakeB]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 10:58am

Here pretty much everyone celebrates regardless of religion. It's become so commercial and less meaningful, I have Hindu and Muslim friends who still give/recieve presents to each other.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 1:08pm

Possibly because a lot of theatre people are Jewish.

Posted: 11/2/03 at 1:16pm

im just guessing but another one might be cause NYC is a big holiday attraction and most people love to go there in Christmas to see shows like the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockets(however u spell it) or other shows and let be part of their Christmas gift. thats whut i think. i could be wrong

[JakeB]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 1:23pm

OK. Is it more expensive though? The actors must surely claim double-pay or something for this? How about the actors themselves for whom Christmas is a family tradition?! (sorry, I just find this really weird)

Posted: 11/2/03 at 1:35pm

o yea i never thought about that

[broadway geek]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 1:45pm

They are all closed on Christmas Eve for the evening performances, giving time for actors to celebrate then, and I know my family eats Christmas Dinner around 3 or 4 giving pleanty of time in the evening. And I also agree with musicmancd about the tourists.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 3:46pm

Yes Jake, public transportation still runs on Christmas--and New Year's. Many of my Jewish friends tell me Christmas Day is an ideal time for them to see a show because tickets are more likely to be available for big hits. I always joke with them that the same is true for the Jewish High Holy Days in September.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 4:19pm

A lot of the performers most likely take a personal day.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 5:41pm

But they have Christmas Day performances all over the US--even in the Bible Belt. Families often go together, or others go after having finished the festivities by late afternoon.

[alterego]

Posted: 11/2/03 at 8:58pm

JakeB it is the same(as in the UK) here in Australia. No shows though some other services operate. Even if there were shows on here there is no way the cast/crew would work without penalty rates( in this case it would be double pay) . This is what happens on Boxing Day, which I don't think they have in the States. Do Pantos play on Christmas Day?

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/3/03 at 10:35am

The trend for the past few years has been AWAY FROM Christmas Day performances, so thisyear's schedule is a bit of a surprise. I have many friends/family who are Jewish & other religions not celebrating the holiday & they are intensely grateful for something different to do that day. Most usually go to a movie, but going to a live performance makes the day special for them as well. And, no Christmas pay is just regular holiday pay, nothing special (although it probably ought to be.) It's considered bad form for principals to be out on Christmas, but many do anyway.

[JakeB]

Posted: 11/3/03 at 4:13pm

So would people like Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick do Christmas? I doubt it..

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 11/3/03 at 4:23pm

There's really a noticeable upswing in understdies on Christmas shows.

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/3/03 at 5:02pm

Yes, they absolutely would. I have never known a "name" to take off a holiday unless he contracted to miss it when he 1st signed, which is rare. There are indeed more understudies -- one Christmas at POTO there were 8! -- but not the stars who sell the tickets.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 11/3/03 at 7:39pm

A lot of times Christmas Eve is the day people do more family things anyway. At least in my family it is. We have everyone gathering at Nana's house Christmas Eve and then my family doesn't do anything Christmas Day because the other side of the family has all passed away. Even if we do go out to dinner with my Nana we are done by around 4:00 so by 8:00 the holiday is pretty much over. I wouldn't mind working Christmas night at all it would cure my boredom.

[Alex the Cat]

Posted: 11/3/03 at 8:25pm

One of the many things I love about New York is that it is one of the few places I know where the entire world does not shut down for Christmas. There are actually many millions of people in the world who do not celebrate Christmas, and in NY you actually are not alone if you are one of them.

I always go into the city on Xmas day because God forbid you should try to find something to do in Connecticut! Last year I was walking up 5th Avenue and there were quite a few Japanese tourists outside the Met trying to figure out why it wasn't open. I felt like telling them to go up a few blocks to the Jewish museum, where there was a great party going on- but the line was around the block! And I will be at Boy from Oz on the 24th, which just happens to be my birthday!