Business booms on Broadway

May 27, 3:00 PMDC Community Theaters ExaminerJamie Hardy

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While the country faces economic trouble in almost every area and small local theatres are struggling to survive business on Broadway is booming. For the second year in a row Broadway breaks the box office with record ticket sales. Broadway plays and musicals brought in over 943 million dollars during the 2008-2009 season. The previous record was set only one season prior at 938 million.

How is Broadway doing so well while the rest of the nation is tightening its belt? Broadway took several steps to ensure its continued success even during a recession that has many Americans cutting back on entertainment. 1) Broadway enticed theatre goers with huge discounts at the box office on some productions. 2) There were cutbacks on some long run productions like "Hairspray" and "Spring Awakening". 3) Broadway opened a spectacular number of new performances 43 to be exact. This is second only to the 1982 season when 50 new plays were opened. The economy was in a recession in 1982 as well. Coincidence? Probably not.

Unfortunately, it was not all good news for Broadway. Overall theatre attendance was down this season. Attendance dropped to 12.15 million theatre goers from the 12.27 million theatre goers the previous season. The over all story, however, is encouraging. Broadway is here to stay despite the troubled economy. This should bring hope to small struggling theatres that even in hard times there is an active and continuing appreciation for live theatre.

For more info: 
New York Times