‘Cats’ Closing: Is It Curtains for Broadway Musicals? — Page 2

The landlords usually take a percentage of the box office, so they have skin in the game too. It’s not like a set amount taking over the operating costs. They’re certainly not the main problem, I’d blame unions before the landlords. Producers go to unions for exceptions for smaller projects, and they tell them, i need this exception or else I won’t be able to hire anyone. Rather than working with them, the unions literally don’t care and would rather none of their members get work. Disgraceful.

It would be good if we could see the broad costs and how they have changed over time. I’m particularly interested to see how people costs have changed (or not) vs things like theatre rental. I go back and forth on people costs, in some ways I think unions need to accept that the market just doesn’t support the economic value they are trying to place on their members anymore and it’s not up to them to dictate how much people should get paid in these circumstances or what uneconomic conditions they demand. The market is telling us it’s too much. And implicitly with all these shows closing is a big message “thank you but no thank you” we aren’t going to pay for enough tickets and high enough prices to support these conditions, we’d rather not and you can be unemployed instead.

On the other hand, I think of how expensive running costs are right now and it’s hard for me to believe that people are the main problem. Eg think of how in demand Manhattan real estate is and how in demand theatres are. I could easily imagine producers being screwed over by these conditions. Of course a theatre owner would say well if you aren’t willing to pay we can find someone that will. And if they eventually don’t, they can easily sell their real estate for more lucrative investments.

I just think there is something too luxurious and fundamentally broken at the idea that so many highly talented people can mount and perform in a show live night after night in one of the most valuable places for real estate on earth when other entertainment forms are practically free, always available, and to be frank often general public find more enjoyable than theatre.

I feel blessed to have become interested in this art form at the right time, before the ship sinks. But the numbers and business model just do not add up anymore. It’s starting to defy reason.

Updated On: 7/23/26 at 08:36 AM

Are you saying you don't believe this plays a role?

BJR said: "Folks. Repeatedly blaming landlords is not only simplistic but it doesn’t account for nearly every nonprofit also having trouble, even across the country. Costs are up dramatically and revenue isn’t."

Yes but what costs specifically? Is it more people backstage, higher wages, theatre rental, marketing etc? I’m sure it’s a combination of everything but I haven’t seen anyone clearly show this. Some people are saying it’s people and wages. Some people saying it’s theatre owners. Which is it? Is it both?

if a show employs 250 people at 100k USD each FLC my calculations would suggest (if these assumptions are not already wrong) there are a lot of other costs besides people. So trying to work out what has increased.