Broadway Cost Data

[CPfiffer]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 6:08pm

Hello!

I'm an undergraduate researcher working on my capstone. I chose to examine the profitability of Broadway shows, and like all research projects there's one aspect that is slowing me down.

Broadway shows have revenues reported, and are easily dug up in machine-readable formats. Initial capitalization and weekly/monthly expenses are much more difficult to find. When they are disclosed, it's often in a "Hooray, we recouped!" type article. Articles are very difficult to parse with programming, and here's where I'm wondering if anyone here can help me.

I'm hoping that some database already exists showing capitalization and expenses for Broadway shows. I haven't found anything like this in my research yet. If it does exist, can someone point me to it?

If such a thing does not exist, that's fine, I can just comb through the internet and try to find the information on the 390 shows I have in my sample.

Anyway, thanks in advance!

[KCW]

Posted: 4/11/16 at 8:32am

There is no database that I know of, but you're soon going to find a major obstacle. Not every show announces that they made back their money which makes it difficult to tell if a show actually recouped or not. Speculation is that Hamilton recouped but there has been no message about that. Keep in mind, as you may know, that shows may invest aditional money to keep it afloat. That's whats happening with Finding Neverland. Also, much of the behind the scenes is absolute speculation to the public, I do not belive that investors are required to state anything but weekly grosses and initial investment. Keep in mind that that is initial investment, that can change massively. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/11/16 at 9:04am

Doesn't exist. Also, a lot of this information is not available publicly, so you may run into problems getting accurate data, as KCW said. You're dealing with private business here.