The Current State of Broadway in 2025

I don't know about everyone but I'm finding this current season on Broadway to be pretty lackluster compared to this time last year. We've had very few shows announce they're coming (especially with someone like Scott Rudin returning), lord knows if any show is gonna survive this fall and winter, and even with the prospect of a casino being built in Times Square, I think the future of Broadway looks very grim right now...how about you guys?

Kad said: "We have had substantially worse seasons- remember, in 1995, there were only two eligible musicals up for Best Musical and a total of only 26 eligible shows across all categories. But things are exceptionally unsettled right now thanks to the Trump administration's actions. I assume we'll see a leaner season in comparison to the last two, something more akin to the lackluster 09-10 recession season."

Not only that, it kinda feels like some producers like Scott Rudin are choosing shows that will appeal to Trump’s base

Updated On: 8/30/25 at 03:08 PM

Bwaygurl2 said: "malcs98 said:

Not only that, it kinda feels like some producers like Scott Rudin are choosing shows that will appeal to Trump’s base"

???"

Oh yeah, in case anybody forgot Scott Rudin who was once called "the most feared man in town" is coming back to produce on Broadway again starting this season. But of course, nobody seems to care about it

Updated On: 8/30/25 at 03:17 PM

malcs98 said: "Bwaygurl2 said: "malcs98 said:

Not only that, it kinda feels like some producers like Scott Rudin are choosing shows that will appeal to Trump’s base"

???"

Oh yeah, in case anybodyforgot Scott Rudin who was oncecalled "the most feared man in town"is coming back to produce on Broadway again starting this season. But of course, nobody seems to care about it"

There has been a great deal of discussion about his return,so many people do seem to care.

I was confused about your assertion that Rudin has chosen work to appeal to Trump's base

Bwaygurl2 said: "There has been a great deal of discussion about his return,so many people do seem to care.

I was confused about your assertion that Rudin has chosen work to appeal to Trump's base"

I understand your confusion, check the previous message

Updated On: 8/30/25 at 04:06 PM

uncageg said: "malcs98 said: "Bwaygurl2 said: "malcs98 said:

Not only that, it kinda feels like some producers like Scott Rudin are choosing shows that will appeal to Trump’s base"

???"

Oh yeah, in case anybodyforgot Scott Rudin who was oncecalled "the most feared man in town"is coming back to produce on Broadway again starting this season. But of course, nobody seems to care about it"



https://forum.broadwayworld.com/thread/Scott-Rudin-returns-intimately-involvedwith-Little-Island-s-2024-Summer-Festival/6

"

Thanks for the previous thread, but still I mean it feels like Broadway seems to be heading backwards. And it’s not just about Rudin’s return, tickets are getting way more expensive than ever before, we’re seeing more and more shows close without recouping, and it feels like producers seem to care less about making this industry more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Even if we possibly reach a recession, Broadway must adapt now, because if not other theatre institutions will have to step up and take its place. And we’re already seeing it happen Off-Broadway, at regional theaters and even in the West End.

Updated On: 8/30/25 at 04:14 PM

malcs98 said: "uncageg said: "malcs98 said: "Bwaygurl2 said: "malcs98 said:

Not only that, it kinda feels like some producers like Scott Rudin are choosing shows that will appeal to Trump’s base"

???"

Oh yeah, in case anybodyforgot Scott Rudin who was oncecalled "the most feared man in town"is coming back to produce on Broadway again starting this season. But of course, nobody seems to care about it"



https://forum.broadwayworld.com/thread/Scott-Rudin-returns-intimately-involvedwith-Little-Island-s-2024-Summer-Festival/6

"

Thanks for the previous thread, but still I mean it feels like Broadway seems to be heading backwards. And it’s not just about Rudin’s return, tickets are getting way more expensive than ever before, we’re seeing more and more shows close without recouping, and it feels like producers seemto care less about making this industry more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Even if we possibly reach a recession, Broadway must adapt now, because if not other theatre institutions will have to step up and take its place. And we’re already seeing it happen Off-Broadway, at regional theaters and even in the West End."

I posted on the board last week about accessibility for disabilities. I posted about how there are discounts for wheelchair users, but people with severe vision loss or hearing loss, they don’t get any kind of discounted rate. Now, I do realize that there are hearing devices, but those don’t help everyone because some people are profoundly deaf, and the sound just creeps in. I also realize that there are ASL performances and open caption performances, but there’s usually only one or two for the entire run and those tickets are still pricey. A lot of people with extreme disability don’t have the funds to drop on a full price ticket.


you’re right and saying that Broadway is going to have to adapt or suffer. Off Broadway theaters are starting to offer excess rates, like they do in London. For example, I was able to buy the deeply discounted wheelchair seat for Prince Faggot even though my disability is a vision one. (I confirmed with the box office before doing so.) Park Ave Armory will sell me a seat upfront for the lowest price point they offer for any show. This is how it should be. But Broadway doesn’t seem to care.

malcs98 said: "bear88 said: "The upcoming season doesn’t seem too exciting on the new musical front, but it’s still early. I do wonder if the combination of the loss of the tax credit, the Trump economic uncertainty, and the failure of even ‘successful’ musicals to recoup is combining to make producers skittish. (I know there were extenuating circumstances, and commercial revivals generally have a tough time making money, but the inability ofSunset Blvd. to recoup struck me as a disheartening development.)

Plays seem healthier. Might we be returning to a time when there are more plays than musicals on Broadway? The crazy costs seem more manageable."

I mean don’t get me wrong I do love a good play every once in a while (JPITV in particular was one of the best shows I’ve seen all year and imo should’ve won Best Play over Purpose, but that’s a whole other debate for another thread). Unfortunately, a lot of people just prefer musicals over plays. What I actually do think we’re gonna see is more revivals than original work on Broadway, and honestly the shows I’m most looking forward to this season are the musical revivals."


I thought that Sunset Blvd recouped…?

theatrejunkie007, “Nicole’s Hit Musical Loses Producers £4.5Million”

It’s the daily mail, so take it with a grain of salt.

Gotcha thanks!

malcs98 said: "Kad said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "malcs98 said: "bear88 said: "The upcoming season doesn’t seem too exciting on the new musical front, but it’s still early.

Plays seem healthier. Might we be returning to a time when there are more plays than musicals on Broadway? The crazy costs seem more manageable."

I mean don’t get me wrong I do love a good play every once in a while (JPITV in particular was one of the best shows I’ve seen all year and imo should’ve won Best Play over Purpose, but that’s a whole other debate for another thread). Unfortunately, a lot of people just prefer musicals over plays."

In my recent experience, a good amount of people don’t prefer musicalsorplays, they just want to see their favorite celebrity onstage."

I think the dismal fortunes of the Cabaret revival have exemplified this."

Yeah I think the star-driven model seems to no longer be working…"

On the contrary, it seems to be the only business model that is working. In CABARET's case, they just couldn't reel anyone in with Redmayne's box office draw after he left the cast.

EDSOSLO858 said: "On the contrary, it seems to bethe only business model thatisworking. In CABARET's case, they just couldn't reel anyone in with Redmayne's box office draw after he left the cast."

I feel like when Eddie was in it this new Cabaret was still a novelty, everyone who wanted to see that novelty did so. I don't particularly think Eddie Redmayne himself is a big draw. Most of his roles aren't in films that generate large revenue or have mass market appeal. If this production didn't require such a massive renovation maybe it would have had a shot but a production that has so little on stage and yet costs so much was always going to be an uphill battle.

TheatreFan4 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "On the contrary, it seems to bethe only business model thatisworking. In CABARET's case, they just couldn't reel anyone in with Redmayne's box office draw after he left the cast."

I feel like when Eddie was in it this new Cabaret was still a novelty, everyone who wanted to see that novelty did so. I don't particularly think Eddie Redmayne himself is a big draw. Most of his roles aren't in films that generate large revenue or have mass market appeal. If this production didn't require such a massive renovation maybe it would have had a shot but a production that has so little on stage and yet costs so much was always going to be an uphill battle."

Some of you have such a tenuous hold on reality and facts, it's certainly something. Novelty sure as hell didn't help Here Lies Love get the kind of grosses Cabaret had. Also wasn't like the understudy dates sold terribly, or that there was big drop in ticket prices instantly post his departure.

In fact you can see the effect of celebrity very clearly in this production as with each successive less famous cast, the grosses have also trended down.

Updated On: 9/1/25 at 04:21 AM