4% Tax on Theater Tickets Proposed by Gov.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:26pm

Oy...
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212008/news/columnists/its_curtain_145201.htm



Updated On: 12/21/08 at 01:26 PM

[jennamajig]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:35pm

Isn't it unfair to group All My Sons and Equus in with the closing shows? Both of those were limited runs that were due to close in Jan despite the economy, correct?

And is making tickets even more expensive really going to *help* ticket sales?

[chrysler99]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:41pm

oy is right! tough times just got worse! Although I question how fast Mary Poppins might go down, as suggested by the article. It sounds like they sold a lot of tickets during the initial days of the kids go free on bway promotion. they might be able to hang on till some tourists return in the Spring. I would think that Disney does not want its flagship theater sitting dark if it can possibly avoid it.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:42pm

This is ridiculous. Because the theater district's not in enough trouble...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:42pm

No, I don't see how taxing tickets, which are already priced too high to begin with, is going to help ticket sales. This is a foolish, bone-headed idea.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:47pm

I would not put equus and all my sons under closing shows but limted run only. Daniel Radcliffe is already starting to film the last Harry Potter Film which is going to be spilt into two parts. NO to his tax on theatre tickets, because he should now that broadway is one thing that brings in money for New York Stae. I am an New Yorker and so pissed about the 137 tax propsal. It includes tax on not diet soft drinks, itunes, more on clothing. As New Yorkers we should be able to vote on this stupid propsal, everyone is struggling right now, and I hop the board turns down all his tax propsals. Sorry but SNL was making fun of him only, not other broadway people, cheated on his wife, and should be thrown out of office.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:47pm

God damn.....

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:49pm

Oy-vey. Yutzi.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 1:50pm

Not to mention that whoever wrote that article can't count. There are a lot more than 13 shows closing early next year, especially if you count the shows closing in February, as he does. He also includes THE SEAGULL, which closes today, not next year.

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:06pm

What shows are closing in Feburary? The only one I know of is Equus and Pal Joey (Which are both limited runs)

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:16pm

SPEED-THE-PLOW is the other one.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:18pm

forgot which shows are closing in feb, we all in enough trouble. we all not rich as david patterson. more people will be more careful at chosing shows.
heres the shows that are 80 % average of filling houses:
in the heights, a man for all seasons, dividing the state, all my sons, grease last two wks, hairspray last 2 weeks, white xmas-limted run, pal joey,spamalot(70's%),lion king, wicked, jersey boys, and billy elliot.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:19pm

Doesn't it seem like Off-Broadway is doing pretty well considering the circumstances? Maybe with ticket prices so high, more people are heading to Off-Broadway, I know I am. It seems like a lot of Off-Broadway productions have gotten stellar reviews, and have posted "extensions" despite the economic troubles.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:31pm

i feel the same way off broadway seems the best beat right now.

[Roge]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:35pm

also Speed the Plow

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:48pm

As a theatregoer who slugs his way up from New Jersey as often as possible to see a NY show, I think Patterson is shooting himself in the foot with this bright idea. Ticket prices are too high anyway. If this deters ticket sales, that means more seats are going to be empty. If more seats are empty, it means that people wont be spending money on restaurants and all the accoutrements attendant on the act of theatregoing. Theatregoers are being screwed; restaurants are being screwed; and NYC's economy is going to be in worse shape than it is already. A NYC theatre that is dependent on Wicked and Jersey Boys is not a healthy thing for anybody.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:49pm

It's moronic to lump limited runs in with the already numerous closings. They obviously want to go for the shock factor of 13 shows closing early next year. It's especially bad reporting since Seagull and All My Sons were both hits.

[matty159]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:54pm

Is it sensationalized to say 13 shows? Um...it is the Post! I read it pretty much daily, but just sayin'....

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:54pm

Equus has yet to recoup?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:56pm

Hasn't been reported as recouping. And its numbers lately have been less than impressive.

[matty159]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:57pm

But on-topic...I think the notion is ridiculous. I mean, producers are responding to the crisis (the reduced prices for ROCK OF AGES hopefully being a start). As for the rest of the stuff included in the prop...moronic too. And all just in time for when I move up there. How nice.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:43pm

I think Reidel included limited engagements in the total number of closings to emphasize how many fewer shows there will be and comparing that to the potential revenue for the state that this tax would be bringing in. "Why tax a dwindling commodity?" is the point the article is trying to make, to me at least.

And this is only among the other insane things Patterson wants to tax, including: non-diet soda, taxi rides, haircuts and movie tickets.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:46pm

From a revenue-raising point of view, I kinda understand the tax. If you think that a lot of people who buy theatre tickets are non-New Yorkers, then Patterson's trying to raise money from out-of-state people, which theoretically means lower other taxes for NY taxpayers. Kinda the way hotel taxes gouge out of towners. From the point of view of one of those out-of-state theatregoers, it all starts to add up and it will be one more thing I take into account before making an impulse theatre ticket purchase for a day trip up to NYC. It won't stop me seeing anything I really want to see.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:47pm

The governor just accidentally the entire American theatre.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:38pm

i dont understand how putting a tax on tickets will help the theater industry.. they tax is most likely going to the state of ny not the theater. its stupid.. i think the governor wants to close all of broadway by doing this.. complete idiotic decison