A weak economy squeezes community theatres: will the cuts have long-term effects on theatre goers?

May 11, 5:48 PMDC Community Theaters ExaminerJamie Hardy

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All across the nation theatres are facing shrinking budgets and smaller donor pools. The economy has squeezed many industries and the performance arts are not shielded from the current meltdown. With smaller budgets theatres are cutting casts, shorting production runs, and limiting the number and type of productions they run. Theatres are opting for large big ticket classic productions that are guaranteed to fill seats over new unknown or controversial productions. This shift could push the fringe productions off the calender and limit the theatre options to a more mainstream variety. This could cost not just during the economic downturn but the future of theatre productions all together.

A January survey conducted by theTheatre Communications Group found that of its 500 members 20 percent plan to cut the total number of productions; 16 percent will reduce performances; and 29 percent are going to replace large-cast productions with shows that require fewer cast members. The survey found that 77 percent of theatres are cutting costs from salary reductions to program elimination. If these trends continue the quality and number of innovative productions could become limited.

What happens to the quality of discourse when theatres begin to play it safe because of budget concerns? Will the lack of exotic variety discourage avid theatre goers - further reducing income for the struggling industry? What should be done to help the theatre industry during these harsh times? Should the federal government increase grant money to smaller local theatres? Or should the market prevail in the quality and diversity of theatre productions? These questions will go unanswered at present, time will tell the final impact. Is there more that art enthusiast can do to encourage a positive future for artistic development in the performance arts? Perhaps a collective effort to attend more the more eclectic productions that are still being offered at local theatres will encourage theatre companies that innovation is worth it.

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