Is Broadway in a recession, Or is it a bad year for New Muscials?- Page 2

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:23pm

Sadly, out of all the new musicals this season, The Little Mermaid will likely last the longest.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:33pm

As much as I love Broadway, the world does not revolve around Broadway.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 1:22am

Well, I'm not so sure...I think Jersey Boys and Wicked have had a phenomenal year! That including the "touring' version of Wicked, as well. That said, our economy is not at its strongest right now, so people are being extra careful what they do with their money. Going to the theatre (tickets are not exactly that cheap) will probably be put off, while other things in a household take priority financially. Of course, some of us (yeah, guilty!), will probably forsake what they can to buy a ticket to a certain play...I guess it all boils down to whether or not you are true theatre lover, and those who treat it as entertainment only, might pass on it. Thus, weak revenues.

Posted: 5/7/08 at 1:29am

I think the shows are not as great as in years past. It's revival season :) I don't necessarily blame the economy, though I am sure it is starting to take a toll on people. Their money meant for Broadway shows may have been forced to go elsewhere. But I have been fairly unimpressed with the overall caliber of new shows this year. Maybe I'm just out of it... I'm not saying there are no good ones, but I feel like in comparison to the past couple years, it's not quite as good.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 1:35am

I have to throw in with the people who are faulting the economy more than the shows. I work for a retail store that will be closing in seven weeks. The company is closing 89 stores across the country and we're the only NJ store that's closing. When the economy is bad and the cost of living goes up ($4/gal gas anyone) people give up the "extra" stuff. Bath and Body Works, Circuit City, and Linens 'n' Things are only a few of the companies that have declared bankruptcy. These are all companies that sell things that people don't really "need". If people are giving up things like these you know they're going to give up Broadway which costs a heck of a lot more than a Warm Vanilla Sugar Candle from Bath and Body Works.

[puppetman2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 1:40am

It is the economy that is keeping people away. Here in Buffalo away from the New York prices for tickets, people still are not spending on theater tickets. I know that many car pool to go downtown to the theater.Gas prices are killing all of us. It is also that shows outside of New York need better publicity. I teach in adult education here and out of 60 students none had heard of DROWSEY CHAPARONE and only one knew about AVE Q. With this in mind they were not going to buy expensive tickets. But this is even hitting the movies. A week ago when I went to FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL there were 4 of us in the theater.

People outside of the theatre community simply are not going to see something they do not know and cost a lot.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 2:38am

Mister Matt:
"Broadway belongs to the tourists now"

The tourist industry is greatly affected by the economic slump. The cost of travel and transportation is greater and for tourists a Broadway ticket is more than just $125. It's the cost of gas, food at restaurants, the hotels, etc. People stay closer to home in a suffering economy.

Eris0303, the cost of gas has already topped $4 /gal where I am. I'm planning a cross-continent trip this summer and I really have to budget for at least $5. /gal. (Who knows where prices will go while I'm on the trip?) So there you have it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 3:20am

Gas it's quite $4 yet here in NJ but it's getting there. I only see shows I can get discounts to but I'm still looking at at LEAST $65 for a ticket. And then it costs me $6 to park my car in NJ (up from $5 in 2007 and $3 in 2006) and $20.50 to take the train into New York. If I eat or take a cab (which I rarely do) that's more money right there. This month is probably going to be my last "hurrah" on Broadway for a bit since, as I mentioned above, I'll be unemployed soon.

Krissy, check out this website. It'll at least give you an idea what gas costs where to help you plan.
http://gasprices.mapquest.com/index.jsp?cid=1_gasprices_home

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 3:40am

Eris, sorry to hear of your upcoming unemployment...
Hope this will open your options for a better position, hopefully. I was just posting something about Tale of Two Cities, and I am hoping you get to see this one, it is all worth it (I think you said you saw it?). And I do hope Natalie Toro returns as Madame DeFarge. She is a great talent. I am making my plans to see it already, but the cost of travelling is taking its bite! I am envious of those of you who live in NYC right now!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 3:43am

I did see Tale of Two Cities in Florida on Halloween night. I enjoyed the show and I think the producers would be foolish to cast anyone but Natalie Toro as Madame DeFarge. Jessica Rush is a horse of a different color though.

[canmark]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:51am

I recently visited NYC for the first time in a few years and after the $300/night hotel and $100 tickets (in truth, I actually ordered discount tickets to 2 of the 3 shows I attended, so I spent less than full price), meals, taxis, etc. my weekend in the city cost as much as a week somewhere else.

I thought the offerings on Broadway were quite good, though, given the tough economic times. But as times get tighter, I fear that only safe properties (Jersey Boys, Wicked, Phantom, Mamma Mia) will survive, not to mention a shortage of straight plays.

[localonedude]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 8:29am

In case you missed it i was being sarcastic!!!!!!Its the economy no doubt. I've been doing shows on broadway for 15 years and have seen a far far worse crop of shows and we were still in the late 90$ boom and the grosses were up. Now penn station on the weeknights has been empty . People arent spending..How can they spend . When gas is 4.15 a gallon . Groceries are up across the board . property taxes are equal to your mortgage payment etc.I was being sarcastic in my post because people are blaming the quality of the shows .Thats the small little box SOME of the people who post on here live in..Sorry to say . self proclaimed critics..Hopefully the summer will bring the tourist in droves because the Euro is still strong so to them it will be a sale .

[localonedude]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 12:10pm

http://money.aol.com/special/real-life-signs-were-in-a-recession?icid=1615984945x1201926519x1200302866

[jasonf]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 2:03pm

I think there's no DOUBT it's a combination of the overall economic recession and the hugely inflated prices of tickets. I'm not QUITE old enough to remember it, but it wasn't THAT long ago that a full price ticket for a show was equal to and less than what we pay discount for now. Heck, even just a couple of years ago I used to go into the city from NJ all the time, get my 50 dollar ticket at TKTS and not feel cheated. Now, even there you're paying 65 a ticket, which is just ridiculous.

The solution is so simple if Broadway is seeing a decline in sales - lower their freaking prices! Drop the price back to 80 or 90 a ticket, maybe give a discount to those who ride the train into the city, and watch those theaters fill up.