Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?
Chorus Member Joined: 2/2/06
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#1
Posted: 9/24/10 at 1:34am
Hi All--
We're planning a trip to NY in late December. I noticed that several shows are not performing on New Year's Eve. For those of you in the know--is this typical? Does it just depend on the show or is this standard operating procedure? I've seen Times Square on New Year's Eve via CNN and know that it is packed and noisy.
Hmmmm....Have I just answered my own question?
Thanks for sharing what you know...
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#2
Posted: 9/24/10 at 1:55amHell no! It's one of the busiest nights of the year for theatre.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#2
Posted: 9/24/10 at 2:03amActually, often the evening shows are dark on New Year's Eve. There are some matinees, but very few shows will hold an evening performance.
Understudy Joined: 12/7/06
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#3
Posted: 9/24/10 at 10:01am
Hi Soubrette!
The Holiday Season is a very busy time in New York City. Especially the week between Christmas and New Years Day. Many shows that are struggling will fight to stay open at least through that week to take advantage of the tourist traffic.
Most Broadway shows will offer a matinee on New Years Even that will end in time to get people out of the theater before they start shutting the streets for the ball drop but will not perform in the evening.
Many shows do alter their schedules slightly for the week between Christmas and New Years so just keep an eye out on the theater websites to see when they announce which shows are performing when so that you can plan accordingly.
Enjoy your trip! New York City at Christmas time is beautiful!
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#4
Posted: 9/24/10 at 10:02am
"Actually, often the evening shows are dark on New Year's Eve. There are some matinees, but very few shows will hold an evening performance."
This. It gets harder and harder to negotiate Times Square and the surrounding blocks in the early afternoon, let alone the evening, so most shows will not have an evening performance. (I wonder if this is at the request of the NYPD for crowd control purposes).
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#5
Posted: 9/24/10 at 10:19am
It used to be a great night to see shows. But last year, no theater-district shows had performances on New Year's Eve.
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#6
Posted: 9/24/10 at 2:40pm
Several years ago I saw Mario Cantone's "Laugh Whore" on New Year's Eve at The Cort Theatre. If I remember correctly, curtain was at 7pm.
All the streets near the theatre district were packed with people. On the street of The Cort Theatre, police were only letting people in with theatre tickets. When the show was over with, the police was telling people to exit way from Times Square.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#7
Posted: 9/24/10 at 3:42pm
Be advised that when shows do perform on New Year's Eve, they often tack on a "stipend". It's absurd, but it's happened a few times.
You might want to consider an Off-Bwy show that night.
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#8
Posted: 9/24/10 at 8:28pm
When I was younger, I used to come to New York for the holiday season (only London surpasses it) and always went to a show on New Year's Eve.
That's all gone now, like Beefsteak Charlies (all the beer wine and sangria you can drink) and the original One Shubert Alley, Richard Stoddard and... aw the list is endless....
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Are B'way theatres typically dark on New Year's Eve?#9
Posted: 9/24/10 at 9:05pmFor me everything started to change when they initiated the "corrals" you had to stand in around the Times Square area. Once in place, you stay there. God forbid you have to pee1
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