I didn't actually state it but when I wrote that I had plays in mind, more specifically offbeat things like Dana H. and The Lehman Trilogy.
I admit to not really understanding where all the money goes. Are theatre owners already willing to lower their profits by offering more affordable rates to use their theatres? Are the three governments giving cultural businesses (as opposed to charitable not-for-profits) as much of a break as they can? Have the unions made concessions to the (quite lucrative) deals that their members (stagehands, performers, musicians, support staff) enjoy in a Broadway house?
Having spent my whole career in the not-for-profit sector I am always shocked to hear commercial producers in private talking about the prospects of shows in their control and the rather bloodless way they discuss closing things down that are not breaking even. I don't have a business brain and although I can understand not wanting to lose your entire net worth on a show, I can't wrap my mind around people and organisations worth hundreds of millions not willing to lose a few million a year in times like these where the whole existence of the business/art form is in jeopardy. |
