For local New Yorkers, how much was theatre a part of your decision to move?

Ive always been curious of this. Of course, this fully depends on the person and their family and job, but for those of us here who moved to NYC, was theatre a major reason behind it? For me, it somewhat is I guess. Im not moving to NYC directly for broadway, but I am for the arts community, liberal community, and diversity of people. Of course, broadway will likely be a monthly trip and is a big reason Im moving here, but not the singular reason. Curious as to how it was for others, as my cousin moved here specifically so she could see more shows and film, I just find the discussion interesting!

It was a pretty big factor for me. I graduated from UCF in Orlando with a degree is hotel management so I knew I could pretty much move anywhere. I wanted to move somewhere where I didn't need a car, so it was either NYC or DC. NYC won because 100000% because of theatre.

I moved here about 16 years ago, and while the culture of the city was a nice perk, my decision was 100% based on grad school & work.

But as I grow more and more exhausted by the city and fantasize about moving somewhere where life is...easier... theatre is for sure one of the main things that's keeping me here. I really do love the perk of getting to see anything I want to see, and now that I'm older and can afford it, I love trying to see everything for Tony season and predicting the nominees and winners. Serves no actual purpose since I don't work in the industry, but I feel like it's my equivalent of getting overly invested in an NCAA bracket, haha.

I first moved to New York in 1988 -- yikes! I knew from a child that I wanted to work in theater, so I figured the first step would be going to college in NYC. So that's what I did, and after graduation I found employment fairly quickly. That kept me here for more than a decade, until I left to take a full-time staff position at a regional theater company in 2004. I left that job in 2009, moved back to NYC, and have been here ever since. So all told, I've lived in NYC for 26 of the last 31 years, virtually my entire adult life. And to answer your question, it seems like my entire adult life (certainly the professional part of it) has been predicated on my decision to move here because of theater.

JustAnotherNewYorker said: "
For me, I would characterize it as "theater is a part of my decision NOT TO MOVE" to the suburbs or out of the City completely."

Very that.