The State of Broadway

Luminaire2 said: "Andrew Lloyd Webber has released a statement in regards to Cats: The Jellicle Ball closing:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaxlrZWDDHj/

So given that, what do you all think needs to happen? What do producers, theatre owners, and unions need to do, to save, nurture, and preserve broadways future?"

Ultimately I think there has to be a restructuring of costs and payments across the board from ticket prices to the cost of rent on broadway. I really hope Mayor Mamdani gets involved with this situation as well because an additional $150 million to boost the state's theatrical tax program is not enough, we need a federal bailout 

Updated On: 7/14/26 at 11:33 AM

rosscoe(au) said: "It all comes down to cost’s. As for federal bailout, that’s not coming under this administration."

Not unless we head to the polls on November 3rd

This entire industry needs an overhaul, and not just from a monetary perspective. 

Most likely our landlords simply get greedier, producers simply wring their hands, nothing is done, and all that we're left with are intimate plays and solo shows, a smaller handful of long-runners, and maybe the occasional musical if we're lucky. 

Remember that Broadway is driven by ego and self-aggrandizement from the top down and has been for over a century. 

We haven't even mentioned the major marketing problem...

I really do believe the crux of blame lies on the theater owners in this regard. I frequently point to this Philip Boroff article, where he showed that in the flop of the 23-24 season, Jujamcyn came home with a pure profit of $34 million off a revenue of over $160 million. And they owned far less theaters than Shubert. 

https://www.broadwayjournal.com/p/jujamcyn-profit-revealed-in-rare-disclosure

Can we say that any other cog in the industry is making that much? It's clear that landlords are bleeding the producers dry, and doing everything they can to shift the blame on to rising costs and unions. If anything, the League of Broadway Producers, 802, AITSE, and Equity, should band together and pressure the landlords to open their books. One player is taking a huge bite of the pie and has everyone from politicians to ALW talking about how unions need to tighten their belts. 

I don’t really have that much of an issue with big musicals needing a couple years to recoup, that’s actually standard for most businesses. There wouldn’t be an issue if you have customers.  That’s the main issue.  How do we get butts in seats?  How do we as an industry get people interested in going to the theater?  
 

I think Broadway also has a brand problem as well as a quality problem.  Probably the only industry on the planet that tries to keep it’s premium upscale expensive reputation while simultaneously begging people to come in. 

Fred Mason said: "I think Broadway also has a brand problem as well as a quality problem. Probably the only industry on the planet that tries to keep its premium upscale expensive reputation while simultaneously begging people to come in."

Exactly, It's become much harder to market Broadway as a whole especially for newer younger audiences. I'm actually working on writing a series of epic new adult fantasy novels centered around Broadway and the theatre world. Think Ready Player One meets Harry Potter (but without all of the transphobia, racism, fat phobia, cultural appropriation, and other problematic elements). the hope is can be presented as an audio listening experience with a full cast and immersive sound. I call it "The Ghostlight Chronicles." I'm currently looking for collaborators so if anybody's interested, shoot me a private message

Updated On: 7/14/26 at 01:59 PM

The latter. 

A major issue with Broadway is that basically all aspects of the industry (theater owners, marketing, press, casting, etc) are each dominated by just a few players. It’s an industry in which a small pool of people are working on every production in different combinations.  

EDSOSLO858 said: "South Korea is / will be the new Broadway."

And how do you know this? What makes South Korea better than Off Broadway or regional theaters or any other theater city in the world?