Broadway Thriving Despite Recession
source: http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003953504
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- St_Alia_10191
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"If this is how a recession affects Broadway, well then, bring it on!
There was much gnashing of teeth in January when a record number of productions closed and left the Rialto looking barren indeed. But since then, some strange things have happened even as the economy continues to struggle to find a foothold.
Broadway grosses are holding their own, with fairly minimal boxoffice dropoffs, and some shows -- notably the revival of "West Side Story" -- are doing $1 million a week even in previews.
More startling still, this spring features an impressive number of openings, with virtually every theater booked. By the time the season wraps at the end of April, more shows will have opened during the 2008-09 campaign than in each of the past two years. What's more, the lineup of recently opened and upcoming productions is far more varied and exciting than usual.
There are classic works by Noel Coward ("Blithe Spirit"), Eugene Ionesco ("Exit the King"), Samuel Beckett ("Waiting for Godot"), August Wilson ("Joe Turner's Come and Gone"), Eugene O'Neill ("Desire Under the Elms") and Friedrich Schiller ("Mary Stuart"), most of which are not usually considered wildly commercial."
There was much gnashing of teeth in January when a record number of productions closed and left the Rialto looking barren indeed. But since then, some strange things have happened even as the economy continues to struggle to find a foothold.
Broadway grosses are holding their own, with fairly minimal boxoffice dropoffs, and some shows -- notably the revival of "West Side Story" -- are doing $1 million a week even in previews.
More startling still, this spring features an impressive number of openings, with virtually every theater booked. By the time the season wraps at the end of April, more shows will have opened during the 2008-09 campaign than in each of the past two years. What's more, the lineup of recently opened and upcoming productions is far more varied and exciting than usual.
There are classic works by Noel Coward ("Blithe Spirit"), Eugene Ionesco ("Exit the King"), Samuel Beckett ("Waiting for Godot"), August Wilson ("Joe Turner's Come and Gone"), Eugene O'Neill ("Desire Under the Elms") and Friedrich Schiller ("Mary Stuart"), most of which are not usually considered wildly commercial."
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nazbags
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I guess people don't mind putting some cash forward for a temporary escape
- 2 years ago
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nazbags
