I agree with others that Broadway will be fine, but there are changes happening with audiences. I think people are demanding quality music and depth in the source material. I read reviews for most shows that open and I can’t count the number of times critics have called the songs and arrangements pleasant but utterly forgettable. If you are asking Broadway audiences to shell out $150-300 they want a transformative experience, and that starts with the music, the storytelling. It probably feels safe to produce shows people are familiar with. Shows from our 80’s childhood. But the increased cost of tickets raise the stakes for quality. Look at some of the recent movie tie-in shows; Groundhog Day, King Kong, Pretty Woman, Mean Girls, Beetlejuice, Tootsie and others. Worth spending $2-400 to take your family to? I would bring my daughter to Hamilton in a heartbeat over Frozen, Aladdin or whatever is next from Disney. And then consider “Greatest Hits” shows like Cher Show, Ain’t yo Proud, Head Over Heels, We Will Rock You, even the wildly popular Jersey Boys.
I’ve gone to a few of the productions above, but more often I saved up for musicals that are unique and memorable : Hamilton, Hadestown, DEH, RENT, Lion King, Wicked, Les Miz, Book of Mormon, The Producers, A Chorus Line and others. Perhaps I’m atypical, but I see that audiences are becoming more discerning consumers.
Updated On: 7/18/19 at 09:21 AM
