Study Outlines Chicago Theater Impact

[kyle.]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:59pm

Could we have another New York City on our hands in 20 years?

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 17, 2007

CHICAGO -- A production of 'Wicked' has played to full houses in downtown Chicago for more than 18 months. Extended runs of 'The Color Purple' and 'Jersey Boys' -- the 2006 winner of the Tony Award for best musical -- are on this year's calendar.

With the city's downtown theater scene experiencing new vibrancy, a Chicago-based presenter of live theater on Tuesday released the results of a study it commissioned finding such shows are responsible for an annual economic impact of $635 million.

The group, Broadway in Chicago, released the results at a news conference attended by Mayor Richard Daley in the lobby of the theater that hosts 'Wicked,' a prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz.'

Daley has been a big booster of theater in the downtown Loop area, where several old, ornate theaters have been refurbished for Broadway-quality musicals he says have become economic engines for the district.

The report was conducted by Fishkind & Associates, an economic consulting firm.

It found that 1.5 million people attend Broadway in Chicago shows every year, and more than 40 percent travel from out-of-state to see long-running shows such as 'Wicked.' The study also found that theater patrons spend more than $75 million at local restaurants and occupy more than 500,000 hotel rooms annually.

The Illinois Arts Alliance released a similar economic impact study about five years ago. While it focused on the nonprofit arts industry, one section did break out the impact of commercial (such as Broadway in Chicago) and nonprofit theater productions and found an economic impact figure of $347 million for 2002 in Chicago.

Chicago also has a thriving, homegrown theater scene, encompassing everything from the nationally known Goodman and Steppenwolf to tiny storefront theaters.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 11:50pm

Wicked had been a tremendous boost. I saw Doubt last week at a matinee and the floor was sold out, that is impressive for a large house.

Color Purple will be a smash here, it will not sell like Wicked, but it will do very well.

Spamelot tickets were hotter than the Bears tickets are now! (not really, I could make about 1500 on my ticket for Sunday!) Can you imagine scalping theater tickets in Chicago?

[kyle.]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 12:13am

Sometimes I wonder about The Color Purple here. I don't know anything about the show, never seen it or heard any of the music, but it has already recouped in New York and is still going pretty strong.

Chicago is Oprah's town and The Color Purple is "her" show. I'm curious to see what happens. If it does follow Wicked's lead it may have to find a new house though. Nat'l tour will start running out of houses to play! And I bet Jersey Boy's could play an open run here without a doubt.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 12:19am

CP will be a great run of 6-8 months. It just does not have the family attraction. I have purchased thousands of dollars of tickets for Wicked for family, friends and business. I will take family to CP and then take about 6 clients.

Bee has been off my radar because it is not in the Loop. I have only seen it once.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 10:37am

The strange thing about these shows in Chicago is how they are running them. Color Purple and Jersey Boys are planning a similar scheme that Wicked had...leave the touring set in Chicago at the end of the tour booking and bring in new cast to replace the tour cast. They should just do what the megahits of the late 80s, early 90s did. Book a long engagement and extend until demand is no longer there and then tour. If the show looks like it will stay for an indefinite period, THEN create another company. But that was during the day when the theatre-heavy markets were always first to receive new shows. Now it seems small secondary markets get big shows before some primary markets (no thanks to Live Nation booking over 75% of all touring venues).

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 12:46pm

This really excites me. I was so excited the first time I saw the "Wicked" marquee up in Chicago. . it's not the best show, but it certainly is exciting to see such investment put into a show here.

I think Color Purple will do very well here. . there are more Oprah fans in this town than kids. . LOL. I'm sure Oprah will promote the new Chicago cast on her show, which will do tons for business.

Also, many Oprah fans who couldn't make the trip to NYC may be able to make it to Chicago. Wicked has been successful because so many people want to see the show, and now the midwesterners don't have to fly to NYC to see it. . the same will happen with Color Purple.

I think Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein" is going to do for our theatre scene what BiC hoped "Pirate Queen" would do. . lol.

Now, if only we could get a sitdown company of "Chicago" in Chicago. . everything would seem right lol.

~Jacob.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 1:14pm

I've always thought Chicago should have had a long run in Chicago. Perhaps the soon to be vacant Drury Lane could house it!

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 1:18pm

I love Chicago. I love living here.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 1:19pm

I think the Drury Lane is way too small for "Chicago."



This picture makes it look bigger than it really is.

Updated On: 1/18/07 at 01:19 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 1:23pm

It would need a smaller theatre if it wanted a sustained run...it was running on empty at thed of its 3 month run when the tour first stopped here.