Why can’t we purchase Broadway shows???

[vtalum05]

Posted: 10/9/20 at 8:02am

With the recent extended closure of Broadway until May of 2021 why arent there options for even a one time purchase of various broadway shows? Im sure with the extended closure there will he shows that are forced to close. At least some money from purchases could be used to keep a show afloat until a re-opening or to continue to pay those out of work actors/actresses. There is no substitute for live theater and I miss it dearly but this seems like a reasonable option especially if a show is facing having to close. Thoughts???

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 10/9/20 at 8:40am

It's a supportive idea, but the accounting flow makes that less of an advantage to a show or its producers/investors and company.  any money from advance ticket purchases (the 'advance' is held on the books of the theatre owner. At the time each performance begins, the value of that performances' ticket sales is transferred from the books of the theatre owner to the books of the production and therefore becomes part of the productions' Gross income. (This is a bookeeping transaction - the actual transfer of money usually occurs at the end of each performance week in what's called the 'Settlement'.  SO the production wouldn't have use of the funds considered the Advance.

[sparksatmidnight]

Posted: 10/9/20 at 9:05am

So they don't have to deal with refunds and rescheduling when the date is eventually moved once more

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/9/20 at 10:26am

"Reasonable option"? Meaning selling a product that literally does not exist and would currently not provide an income stream for ANYONE working on the show besides the producer because those contracts do not actually exist in the world currently?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/9/20 at 10:32am

Just like you can't buy a home movie of a dinosaur hatching, you can't buy a Broadway show that hasn't been filmed.