Why is theatre so much more expensive nowadays? — Page 3

Cost of living comparison between London and NYC:

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&city1=London&country2=United+States&city2=New+York%2C+NY&displayCurrency=USD

Basically, merely saying one thing like inflation isn't going to get the bottom of why mounting costs are so different on Broadway compared to other places. There has to be multiple factors going on.

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Full price orchestra tickets for two big budget musicals that are supposed to succeed this year, Twentieth Century and The King and I, are $147 and $142 respectively.

Someone who commented on the Twentieth Century preview thread said that she had seen the original 1978 production and the top ticket price was $18.50, while two shows getting ready to open had announced the $20.00 mark.

Using a calculator found on the 'Net, $20 in 1978 was worth $48 dollars in 2014.

Allowing for some room for inaccuracy in these figures, the price of the top ticket for a Broadway musical now has doubled or tripled in price in thirty-six years, taking inflation into account.

This huge increase has had to have caused some major changes in the composition of a Broadway season. After paying such a hefty price for tickets, the theatergoer does not want to be disappointed. It's not enough to walk out of the theater saying, "That was a pretty good show. I really liked that first act closing number."

The solution is simple. Get the books for the 1978 production of 20th Century, get the books from the current production, and see what items consumed that extra money.

Now where do I find those 1978 books?

There are so many ways to discount tickets now. I wonder if some of this isn't taking that into account Yes, I just paid with shipping $360 for FH tickets. A friend goes to shows mostly for free or through contests, and she goes to a lot of shows.

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Updated On: 2/19/15 at 06:39 PM

It's Hollywood accounting. "Wow, everything's so expensive now, putting on a show is SO EXPENSIVE, give us lots of money to put on a show since it takes so much! No, we won't show you our books."

Updated On: 2/20/15 at 02:22 AM

5:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNgE085lJZU

I haven't seen anyone say, "Because they can." Concert/entertainment tickets in general have far outpaced inflation. The demand in general, due to more discretionary income, has allowed prices to increase without curbing the demand. Yet, individual shows still close.

I don't think unions can be blamed, as they see producers making more money from higher ticket prices they want some of that money for their work. I see ticket prices driving up wages not the other way around.

The goods and services are obviously more expensive now due to the economy, although $250,000 is not the equivalent of 10 million now. I think one of the big reasons why shows are more expensive to mount today is because they just need more of everything; more goods and services. Ultimately, I find that to be the biggest reason why shows are more expensive to mount today. $250,000 in 1960 would only be 2 million today. Clearly, it is not just inflation and the economy. That is the point I am trying to make, but everybody is so quick to bitch at me!

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lol when did i ever talk about ticket prices?

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Let's just put Roxy and Phillypinto in a room and let them hash this out.

How about inside of a bank vault and then we burn the combination.

Unions

Keeping with the Mormons. If the Book of Mormon people can charge 200 per ticket so can we.

Discounts being the norm except for sold out shows. Tickets are priced knowing that they will probably sell at one half their retail price. If you can sell em full price...even better!

I have been meditating on Roxy's latest Zen koan since he posted it. I feel closer to enlightenment.

People talk about ticket prices. They are the reason theater is so expensive. You can get into the nuts and bolts but the bottom line is what it costs to see a show.

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Updated On: 2/20/15 at 02:39 PM

Discounts being the norm except for sold out shows. Tickets are priced knowing that they will probably sell at one half their retail price. If you can sell em full price...even better!

Yes, should probably look at the average price of admission in addition to the top ticket price.

So many discounts. If you ordered your tickets for OTTC by February 1st, you could have gotten a lot of those $147 tickets, all except Orchestra Center I think, for $89 or $99.