The death of theatre
People have been eulogizing theatre for years. And granted, it seems that with each season there are fewer and fewer worth while productions opening on Broadway, and even fewer worth while performers treading the boards, but is theatre really dead? I don't know if I would go quite that far. But I will say that it could very well be on it's last legs. With the number of "juke box" musicals increasing, and original works doing just the opposite, it makes one wonder where exactly the fault lies.
In the performers? Perhaps. In the writers and composers? It's possible. In the mentality of the ever lessening audiences? Could be. But I think a major contributor to the fall of theatre is in the astronomical prices a theatre-goer is charged for admission. Back in the mid-nineties, I remember spending around $75 for center orchestra seats at Les Miserables (seventh row). Then a few years later, for the same seats in Ragtime, I was charged upwards of $80. In 2003, fifth row seats to Wicked cost me $101 (kind of an odd price, I thought). Now on Broadway, orchestra seats go for $108. It does not take a mathematical genius to see that within my lifetime theatre tickets will cost over $200 a seat. This is a problem.
It used to be that the 'Average Joe' could afford for he and his family to go to the theatre. Now if a household has two parents and two children it would cost them well over $400 for a night at the theatre (not including transportation, food, accommodations if they're from out of town, and the obligatory t-shirt and souvenir program). Let's face it, the average American does not have that much money. So little by little, fewer and fewer people are going to the theatre. And fewer and fewer people are willing to take a chance on an unknown show. Which, is probably why all these musicals with recycled music are proving so popular - at least people will recognize the songs, even if they dislike the show.
Also, with Hollywood studios beginning to reign in on the theatre district, it is becoming increasingly harder for original shows written by unknown playwrights and composers to make it anywhere.
So, what is the point of this tirade you ask? Well, I don't really know. Do I have a solution? No. And even if I did, I'd have to write to a Hollywood Film Studio to express it. And by the time my letter was addressed, I wouldn't be able to afford to stand under a Marquee, let alone sit in the audience. So instead, I'd better go sell my hair for a ticket to Lestat.
In the performers? Perhaps. In the writers and composers? It's possible. In the mentality of the ever lessening audiences? Could be. But I think a major contributor to the fall of theatre is in the astronomical prices a theatre-goer is charged for admission. Back in the mid-nineties, I remember spending around $75 for center orchestra seats at Les Miserables (seventh row). Then a few years later, for the same seats in Ragtime, I was charged upwards of $80. In 2003, fifth row seats to Wicked cost me $101 (kind of an odd price, I thought). Now on Broadway, orchestra seats go for $108. It does not take a mathematical genius to see that within my lifetime theatre tickets will cost over $200 a seat. This is a problem.
It used to be that the 'Average Joe' could afford for he and his family to go to the theatre. Now if a household has two parents and two children it would cost them well over $400 for a night at the theatre (not including transportation, food, accommodations if they're from out of town, and the obligatory t-shirt and souvenir program). Let's face it, the average American does not have that much money. So little by little, fewer and fewer people are going to the theatre. And fewer and fewer people are willing to take a chance on an unknown show. Which, is probably why all these musicals with recycled music are proving so popular - at least people will recognize the songs, even if they dislike the show.
Also, with Hollywood studios beginning to reign in on the theatre district, it is becoming increasingly harder for original shows written by unknown playwrights and composers to make it anywhere.
So, what is the point of this tirade you ask? Well, I don't really know. Do I have a solution? No. And even if I did, I'd have to write to a Hollywood Film Studio to express it. And by the time my letter was addressed, I wouldn't be able to afford to stand under a Marquee, let alone sit in the audience. So instead, I'd better go sell my hair for a ticket to Lestat.
posted by Joe at 5:14 AM
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