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Bloomberg.com: "The producers of two new hit musicals, “The Scottsboro Boys” and “Yank!” say they’d rather gamble on Broadway than move into an off-Broadway theater. The costs are lower, but so are potential profits -- and prestige."
It seems unfortunate that financially it does not name sense to produce shows on off Broadway. Producers, directors, artist directors seem more willing to take greater risks and do more challenging pieces when they are working Off-Broadway. It is nice to see that a show like Scottsboro did so well Off-Broadway, but that is no guarantee for when it goes to Broadway. People want recognition from receiving awards such as Tonys, but if thats the goal, why do theater at all? Its a shame that such a powerful art form has become such a business.
Its really sad that off Broadway is financially suffering so much. Off Broadway was definitely the place in New York that usually tried the most experimental and new forms of theatre, and definitely the most exciting. You go to Broadway for glitz and glam, but often not much else. I'd love to see the two areas murge, which appears to be attempting with some recent broadway shows. To me this makes New York seem pretty terrifying. Off Broadway is doing so poorly financially, where could I even get work there? Especially since Broadway is reserved for the higher-ups and established designers. Hopefully off broadway will struggle on and make it through the economic times.
It's true what Mary said about going to Broadway for glitz and glam. As much as one might like for Broadway to produce shows that are challenging, groundbreaking and statement making, that isn't what sells. The majority of sales on Broadway are to tourists. Tourists want to have an enjoyable evening out, to see something that is guaranteed, or familiar. The tourists, who are the audience, don't want to take a risk, so it's not financially sensible to take a risk with the show. It's sad but true.
It sounds to me like we badly need to reinstate the purpose of off-Broadway theater! It has become massivly commercialized, a place where the only option is to keep moving up. Why is it that off-Broadway is not a good place to be? Do people no longer go see shows there? I believe that it needs to be reinvented and re-branded as a location for theater, one that can produce new work more easily, and experiment a little more. Many of the Broadway shows that have been failing (eg ragtime) i think could have done very well off Broadway. But the form does not allow it.
I agree with many of the statements here. I think that the term "off-broadway" has been brought down in the recent years. Why go to smething that of "off-broadwa" when you can go to Broadway? I think that people need to rexamine the idea andplace of theater. Good theater is not marked by its location in New York, or anywhere in the world. it is makred by the performance and the result thereof on the audience. People need to undestnad that theater is sometimes better just a few blocks off the Great White Way.
5 comments:
It seems unfortunate that financially it does not name sense to produce shows on off Broadway. Producers, directors, artist directors seem more willing to take greater risks and do more challenging pieces when they are working Off-Broadway.
It is nice to see that a show like Scottsboro did so well Off-Broadway, but that is no guarantee for when it goes to Broadway. People want recognition from receiving awards such as Tonys, but if thats the goal, why do theater at all? Its a shame that such a powerful art form has become such a business.
Its really sad that off Broadway is financially suffering so much. Off Broadway was definitely the place in New York that usually tried the most experimental and new forms of theatre, and definitely the most exciting. You go to Broadway for glitz and glam, but often not much else. I'd love to see the two areas murge, which appears to be attempting with some recent broadway shows. To me this makes New York seem pretty terrifying. Off Broadway is doing so poorly financially, where could I even get work there? Especially since Broadway is reserved for the higher-ups and established designers. Hopefully off broadway will struggle on and make it through the economic times.
It's true what Mary said about going to Broadway for glitz and glam. As much as one might like for Broadway to produce shows that are challenging, groundbreaking and statement making, that isn't what sells. The majority of sales on Broadway are to tourists. Tourists want to have an enjoyable evening out, to see something that is guaranteed, or familiar. The tourists, who are the audience, don't want to take a risk, so it's not financially sensible to take a risk with the show. It's sad but true.
It sounds to me like we badly need to reinstate the purpose of off-Broadway theater! It has become massivly commercialized, a place where the only option is to keep moving up. Why is it that off-Broadway is not a good place to be? Do people no longer go see shows there? I believe that it needs to be reinvented and re-branded as a location for theater, one that can produce new work more easily, and experiment a little more. Many of the Broadway shows that have been failing (eg ragtime) i think could have done very well off Broadway. But the form does not allow it.
I agree with many of the statements here. I think that the term "off-broadway" has been brought down in the recent years. Why go to smething that of "off-broadwa" when you can go to Broadway? I think that people need to rexamine the idea andplace of theater. Good theater is not marked by its location in New York, or anywhere in the world. it is makred by the performance and the result thereof on the audience. People need to undestnad that theater is sometimes better just a few blocks off the Great White Way.
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