Monday, November 26, 2007
The Price of the Ticket
OpinionJournal - Leisure & Arts: "Speaking as one of the simple, fallible New York critics Mr. Brook had in mind, I feel obliged to ask: Is Broadway really twice as good today as it was in 1968?"
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While it doesn't go in depth into future projections, I do enjoy this examination of the issues consumers will face due to the strike. I would love to see more analyzing of the advertisement perspective and maybe some studies concerning the target audience. I think then we could get a larger view of the consumers who will be most affected by this strike in the long haul.
A recent discussion in Theatre Management covered the historical and present costs of Broadway Theater tickets. The upshot was that Broadway has always been (and likely will always be) expensive. I would say that productions in recent years have become twice as technically complicated as they have been, and SFX don't come with a small price tag. Also, there really isn't a reason to pay $450 for a ticket - if you plan ahead you can find comprable seats for far less. I have never encountered a show worth that much to me. Maybe someday I'll find a piece of theatrical excellence that will change my mind, though.
I feel like I've heard this statement before about ticket prices and the new wave of American theatre on Broadway, but this journalist seems to take a fresh cut on the topic. I agree that some shows may be enjoyable, but not entirely woth the cost we are charged. The high prices merely turn away most audiences and thus stunt the growth of theatre's popularity. However, with regional theatres that may not entirely be the case. I like what he quoted (Especially since I will one day be an employee) "Cuts in our jobs and wages will never result in a cut in ticket prices." What then are we getting charged all this money for?
I think that when we hear that large amount for a ticket to a Broadway show we think that it is ridiculous, that some aspect of the show is just amazing or it's so popular that tickets have gone through the roof. But this author looks at shows in the past and compares their ticket prices to that ones of day and although I do agree with the last statement that there are other places to go see theatre, we have to remember that Broadway is changing and always will be changing. There are certain aspects in shows today that shows in the past did not have and economy is not the same. There are many factors to these prices, but are they worth it? That's a personal to be worked out with your check book.
I do think that the point about the importance of regional theater is a very good point. Broadway can sometimes be entirely overrated.
I do think that the point about the importance of regional theater is a very good point. Broadway can sometimes be entirely overrated.
What bugs me is that every time I hear this argument, less attention is given to the other factors in why the tickets cost that much. We ar talking huge shows that cost a butt load of money to put up and maintain. There is a reason they are so exspensive.
Jill makes a good point...while these musicals may not be the most amazing stories, they throw shit-tons of money at them to make them look pretty, not to mention the price of space on Broadway. Not to completely defend putting prices out of the reach of most people, but since there is no guarantee of how long the show will stay, in most cases it's all about trying to break even at some point. And let's face it, it is simple economics here, if they supply it at that price, and they can continue to sell out shows, why wouldn't they?
i was explaining the cost of tickets to my family at some point last year, and when i told them about what we do in school here, they immediately began to understand the whole process and cost involved with producing a show. However, the prices are getting a bit too high for many people to see larger productions, and the smaller crowds are starting to affect the producing theatres. Strike anyone?
It is true that the cost of larger and more extravagant productions makes it reasonable to hike up ticket prices, however I am not sure that is the question. If the question is simply whether theater is that much better today than it was then, well that is all up to the opinion of the individual, depending of course on whether they were even there back then to see those productions. What I do strongly agree with, is that you don't need to pay an arm an leg to see good theater. Some of the best and more meaningful/captivating productions I have seen in theaters I can't even begin to name. Certainly not on Broadway...
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