While a theatre is empty...?

[Bwaygay2003]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:02pm

So now that we know that Carousel is closing and that the Temptations musical isn't coming in until 2019, what will happen in the theatre in the meantime?
Does it just sit and stay dark and collect dust? Or are there other limited run shows that are waiting in the wings to run during that interim?
Between Carousel closing and Head Over Heels and Gettin The Band Back Together likely closing very soon, it sounds like several theatres are going to be sitting empty until next spring.
Do the theatre owners have other things they can bring in to fill those unexpected gaps this year? Or will they just lose money?

[zainmax]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:11pm

The Imperial will probably be dark until ATP.

The other theaters probably have other shows in the wings.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:12pm

They should put it up on AirBNB

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:13pm

Probably misterb&b for a better reach.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:16pm

The answer is: all of the above.  Some theaters already know their next tenant but cannot announce until the current show officially puts their closing notice out.

Some theaters will have a spring tenant, and will be able to get a short term show in.  Some will be successful and others will stay dark.

 

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:32pm

Can a theatre actually lose money when it doesn’t have a tenant? I mean, some of these theatre are old enough, where I don’t they have worry about paying the mortgage. Also when a theatre is dark they don’t have to worry about paying any electricity/water bills or the usher and B.O. staff.

Updated On: 8/25/18 at 03:32 PM

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 3:55pm

What happens to the ushers when theaters go dark? Are they out of a job for that extended time period?

[msmp]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 4:04pm

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "What happens to the ushers when theaters go dark? Are they out of a job for that extended time period?"

I always thought that ushers worked for the organization (ie, Shuberts, Nederlanders) rather than a specific house. Is that not correct?

[zainmax]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 4:09pm

Still got property taxes.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 4:22pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Can a theatre actually lose money when it doesn’t have a tenant? I mean, some of these theatre are old enough, where I don’t they have worry about paying the mortgage. Also when a theatre is dark they have to worry about paying any electricity/water bills or the usher and B.O. staff."

Front of house staff is laid off (or transferred to another venue) when a theater is dark. The theater owner pays the utilities and has expenses to maintain an empty theatre. When a show is running the show pays the utilities. 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 6:05pm

Assuming the next show has been announced, I assume some box office staff are usually retained?

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 7:10pm

I'm not sure how it works, but don't these productions have to setup and rehearse. I'm sure that must take some time. 

Someone mentioned mortgages. I'm sure that's not an issue, but the property taxes on these venues must be killer, so it should be important to have a running and profitable show. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 7:47pm

They dont rehearse at the theater until very close to first preview.
Tech starts loading in 2-4 weeks before that.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/24/18 at 8:06pm

The Shuberts can always get a Christmas show in like Home for the Holidays.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 12:31am

msmp said: "ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "What happens to the ushers when theaters go dark? Are they out of a job for that extended time period?"

I always thought that ushers worked for the organization (ie, Shuberts, Nederlanders) rather than a specific house. Is that not correct?"

Full time ushers are hired by a particular theater and only work there (though you can sub at another show on your day off that might has a different schedule than you do). Most ushers start as subs within one organization (or more than one if you are lucky). Subs are more apt to move between various theaters.

When there is no show at that theater, full time ushers can work as a sub within their organization at other theaters based on each theater's need. If you are lucky, one might get a permanent sub spot but that's not always the case. You are more likely to either sub around or if there is not enough work, apply for unemployment.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:39am

All front of house staff are assigned a particular theater, including house managers and box office staff (this excludes subs for obvious reasons). When the theater is dark, they are laid off. They can substitute at other houses if needed, or they can collect unemployment. Every theater also has a number of permanent backstage workers, who are also laid off (but can also sub around or collect unemployment).

As for the theaters themselves, the Shubert and Nederlander Organizations are not-for-profit entities (and, presumably, Jujamcyn), so they only pay property taxes when they have a commercial tenant. They are exempt when the theater is dark.

Updated On: 8/25/18 at 03:39 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 2:52pm

The Shubert FOUNDATION (a part of the Organization) is non-profit - but the organization is not.  I can't find anything stating that Nederlander nor Jujamycn is non-profit, either.   (So please point me in the right direction.)

 

Also (and I'm asking, not attacking) what would that have to do with them not paying property tax?  

 

Lastly....I thought that seniority comes into play when a show closes for the usher staff - although I have no idea where I got that idea.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:30pm

The Shubert Foundation is not part of the Shubert Organization, it is the sole shareholder, making it the owner. The Foundation received a favorable IRS ruling decades ago that allowed them to retain ownership of a commercial business. While theater ownetship falls under the Shubert Organization, the Foundation is known to transfer ownership of property to the Foundation for tac purposes. You may be right about Nederlander and Jujamcyn, but no doubt the property taxes aren't what should be, as Broadway has a number of tax breaks nor available to other commercial businesses.

Not-for-Profits are exempt from property taxes in at Federal law. So assuming the Shubert Organization pays any property tax, they could simply shift the ownership to the Foundation and only be responsible for taxes during occupancy by a commercial tenant.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:36pm

Thanks for the info, Fosse.  (It just doesn't match most of what I read!)   

 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 8/25/18 at 3:45pm

Fosse76 said: 
As for the theaters themselves, the Shubert and Nederlander Organizations are not-for-profit entities (and, presumably, Jujamcyn)

Nederlander and Jujamcyn are for-profit corporations. Fosse76 is correct: The Shubert Organization is the non-profit umbrella org under which all other Shubert businesses fall under (with the exception of Theatre Refreshment - the concessions provider in all Shubert theaters - which is controlled by Shubert but not technically under the Shubert Org.)