Sunday, November 25, 2007
Critic's Corner: ShowPlane strikes different chord off Broadway
Post Gazette: "The Showless ShowPlane, I dubbed the latest edition of the Post-Gazette's long-running tradition. But no one ever need go showless in New York, not even when a stagehands' strike closes 27 of the 35 Broadway theaters as it did last week. If the strike continues and you have Manhattan plans, take heart from our experience."
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6 comments:
That certainly is one perk that has resulted from the stagehand's strike, more revenue for equally deserving Off-Broadway theatres. Also, it seems by the reactions of the author and his guests that they were just as satisfied with seeing less infamous shows. However, I'm surprised that there weren't more cancellations; as well respected and successful off Broadway shows are, the general public just doesn't seem to draw like they do to big Broadway and TIMES SQUARE.
Well, if there was anything to be gained from a broadway strike, it was just that: off-broadway theaters reaping the benefits of labor disputes. Oftentimes, off-broadway houses get neglected because their shows are not as "good" as broadway shows, but as i'm sure many will agree, I've definitely seen some broadway shows that wouldn't hold a flame to some off-broadway and off-off broadway shows, not only in performances, but many times in production values, despite broadway's big budgets. And god knows much more challenging, artistic, and cutting-edge stuff happens off-broadway then on, so...go strike!
Wells its good that many of the off-Broadway houses are getting a bit more attention considering their usual crowds. And in the article there was mention of the Algonquin Hotel, which in the past has been known to play host to plays itself. The theater company that I worked for this summer did their a production 2 years ago in one of the board rooms there because the play was set at the hotel. Interestingly though, many of the off-Broadway houses probably can't hold the numbers of people that would have gone to the broadway shows, even if they spread out to all of the off-Broadway shows each night.
This is very interesting article. If I went to New York City now, I would probably get headache and wonder what to do at night. Local one's strike definitely has people go to Off-Broadway and Lincoln Center etc. It's good for these shows. They may have opportunity to get the audience's attraction. But for people preferring the exciting musicals, they might hold their trip to NYC currently.
Another interesting thing is the actor still does their duty to sign-in every night, like good kids.
This is not the first article I've read about large groups of people planning on seeing Broadway shows now all changing to off Broadway shows, it must be an interesting change for these of-Broadway houses to see such large groups storm their box offices and take up so many seats at a time.
Yes the big problem right now is that most Broadway shows right now are still are on strike and so the people that had tickets are left hanging. But I think we get so caught up in thinking of juts Broadway and only Broadway. There is lots more to New York then just Broadway. Of course, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway are still there and have a lot of good shows that get over looked most of the time. Alot of shows from off Broadway move up to showing regularly on Boradway. So even though it is dissappointing there are still lots to do even thought your night at the theatre was ruined the whole night is not.
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