Decrease in male teens seeing broadway shows?

[Mongo]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 12:56pm

Recently I've noticed less Teens that are boys going to see traditional shows or revivals. What could be causing this. Post your opinions.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 12:57pm

"What could be causing this?"

Creepy people ...scoping out and counting the teen boys in the audience.

Updated On: 7/23/08 at 12:57 PM

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:03pm

If my 17-year-old son is any indication, they're just not interested.

[pants2]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:04pm

I go to Broadway shows like it is my job, and I am a 17 year old boy, so eh, it's a start. I know a lot of other boys who do too. Are you speaking solely of classic Broadway though? I always go see those but I know that a lot of teens don't.

[jpbran]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:11pm

When were teen boys EVER a viable demographic for Broadway?

(Other than little gay boys like I was/am.)

[pants2]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:13pm

And I want to clear up that some of the boys I know aren't gay, they just appreciate it.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:16pm

LOL!!!

[pants2]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:23pm

And I feel that i should also clear up that teenage boys never really were a MAJOR audience for Broadway.

[Raspberry]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:30pm

check out the cover story for the NYO today:
"The New Old Gays"
http://www.observer.com/2008/style/new-old-gays?page=0%2C0

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:35pm

Straight male teen Broadway junkie here...

[winston89]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:48pm

I just don't think that the straight male was ever a core demographic for Broadway. Keep in mind all the articles that came out when Spamalot opened about how straight males were buying more tickets for that show then any other demographic.

I am a straight teen male and I am obsessed with theatre. I know I am a minority.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:57pm

That article reads as if it had been written on drugs.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:59pm

Strait male teen over here too!

[philly03]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:07pm

Another straight teen (not the younger portion none-the-less) here, and I'd rather see (and just saw) the Gypsy revival and Sunday inthe Park with George rather than somethign like Passing Strange or Rent.

And I'd have to agree with pants2. Most teenage males don't, on their own, just go to the theatre. There's usually something that sparked their interest....whether it's their parents, or a show like Spamalot, etc.!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:19pm

Yay for yet another straight teen. And I love all theatre as long as the music is good, the story is moving, the characters are relatable and acted well then I dont care what it is Im seeing. In one day I could see both Gypsy and Passing Strange and enjoy each of them equally well.

[KatSing]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:33pm

I go to a performing arts high school, so I really haven't noticed this change, because the teenage boys I know are either gay and love theatre or straight and love theatre.
But there are definitly more girls at my school than boys, which can show that boys have always been slightly less into threatre in general

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:38pm

This thread is officially the creepiest one on the board. Especially the original poster.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:45pm

creepy it's funny the op hasn't posted since does he prey on teenage boys.

[none]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:48pm

I think many teenage guys just don't have an interest in it, especially if they've never been introduced to it. No doubt there are many of them who like it, but among other demographics I think male teens make up the least amount of theatergoers.

I met a mom and her son (around 13 I think) after winning In the Heights lotto recently, and she has always loved theater and has been taking him to many shows a year, each year since he was about 8. He loves basically every show out there currently, and it was really cute to hear about how much he likes theater.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 2:57pm

Anytime my son has gone...and he's seen five Broadway shows, it's been with me and his sister. My daughter is a full-blown theatre geek now, but while he's liked a couple of things," it's like pulling teeth to get him to go so I don't even bother.

Tried to get him to see "Spamalot" during spring break but it didn't happen. He was happier just wandering the city or watching the Masters golf tournament in the hotel room.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 3:02pm

That article reads as if it had been written on drugs.

-- agreed.

This thread is officially the creepiest one on the board. Especially the original poster.

-- agreed.

[noahc]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 3:03pm

Straight male teen here.

And I'm sure there are gay teens who like football. ::rolls eyes at OP::

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 3:40pm

Perhaps this is evidence that the gay male population is dwindling.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 4:37pm

I have a hard time believing that heterosexual teenage guys don't find Wicked, Legally Blonde, or The Little Mermaid appealing.
Those shows offer excellent main characters that all teenage guys can relate to.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 4:55pm

^haha! I think it might have to do with the fact that this demographic is the least exposed to theater due to social stigmas and such.