Industry Pro Newsletter: Earlier Curtain Times, New NEA Data on Adult Participation in the Arts
New Rep in Boston Announces Their Closing, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Announces Cancellations in the Face of a Fiscal Crisis
By: Alex Freeman Oct. 23, 2023
With The National Theatre announcing experimenting with an earlier evening curtain time, Cara Joy David explores whether a similar experiment will be making its way to Broadway. New leadership at the Raven Theatre in Chicago, and New Rep in Boston has announced that they will be closing their doors after 40 years. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis also announced fiscal troubles this week, resulting in the replacement of their traditional Christmas Carol, and the cancellation of two other previously announced productions. Meanwhile, new data shows that regional arts centers in Connecticut contributed more than $1 Billion in economic activity in the last year.
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Company Manager - Manhattan Theatre Club
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Industry Trends
National Endowment for the Arts: New Data Reveal How Adults Participated in Arts During COVID-19
New data published by the National Endowment for the Arts provides insights into adult participation in the arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report outlines how adults engaged with the arts, such as reading literature, attending virtual events, and participating in creative activities at home. It indicates that despite the challenges of the pandemic, adults remained connected to the arts, highlighting the importance of culture during difficult times. The findings shed light on how the arts industry adapted and persisted during the pandemic, suggesting resilience and innovation within the sector.
The Wall Street Journal: It's Getting Too Expensive to Have Fun
Rising costs are impacting the affordability of entertainment and leisure activities for consumers. Inflation is causing ticket prices for various forms of entertainment, including movies, concerts, and sporting events, to increase. This financial burden on consumers is prompting some to cut back on entertainment spending. Additionally, the cost of dining out and traveling has also risen, limiting people's disposable income for leisure. These financial challenges may have significant consequences for the entertainment industry, forcing venues and event organizers to adapt to consumers' changing priorities and budgets.
Broadway/New York
Industry Trends Weekly: The National Announces 6:30pm Experiment--Is Broadway Next? By Cara Joy David
Last week, London’s National Theatre announced that starting in February 2024, select Tuesday and Thursday performances for new productions will begin at 6:30pm. This “trial,” which the National stated was based on research it undertook “to understand more from audiences about their post-Covid lifestyles and habits,” is currently scheduled to last until mid-year. Is it a good idea? Should the West End or Broadway adopt 6:30pm curtains? It’s hard to know, but the move could pay off.
Broadway has recently seen a change in schedule pay off. A Beautiful Noise went to a four-matinee schedule and saw a jump at the box office. Every week since the early September change, A Beautiful Noise has topped the weekly grosses it achieved in July and August.
“It’s not only adding a Thursday matinee—which is a show our audience wanted, they wanted another matinee—it was getting rid of the Wednesday night,” said A Beautiful Noise lead producer Ken Davenport. “Most audiences, up and down the street, don’t want a Wednesday night. I would put money on it that it’s everybody's worst performance of the week. So it’s two wins—we got rid of the worst show of the week and added something that our audience wants.”
Davenport, who will put up a full analysis of numbers on his Producer's Perspective blog this Thursday, said that the first Thursday matinee had twice the attendance of an average Wednesday night. Revenue, the most essential figure, more than doubled as compared to the usual Wednesday night performance. The added performance sold more premium tickets and attracted more tourists. According to Davenport, that "positive trend continues." (It should be noted there is also something to being the only game in town on a particular day/time. Chicago and Six have found success on Monday nights, which is typically a dark day for theater. Phantom—which had a Thursday matinee instead of, not in addition to, a Wednesday matinee—also liked that Monday slot.)
In terms of a general trend, Davenport cited a 2022 New York Times article titled “For New Yorkers, 6 p.m. Is the New 8 p.m.” in discussing how current audiences may want to be done with theater earlier. But I was reminded how The New York Times stressed the same thing back in 2003 when “Tuesdays at 7” were introduced. “Tuesdays at 7” was once a limited experiment, similar to the National’s 6:30pm trial. Tuesdays were performing poorly, so industry folks thought they'd give an earlier curtain a try. The trial was met with the same sort of mixed reactions that the National trial is being met with. Some people said it was too early to be there after work or too early to eat pre-show, some simply relished getting home earlier after a show.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Red Buckets Fundraising Returns to Theaters
The Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' iconic Red Buckets fundraising campaign is back in theaters. After a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign, which involves Broadway actors collecting donations in red buckets after performances, has resumed. This tradition is vital for supporting various organizations' work to combat HIV/AIDS. The campaign's return signifies a step toward normalcy for Broadway and reflects the industry's commitment to charitable causes. It allows both audiences and performers to contribute to the fight against AIDS while enjoying live theater once again.
Photos: Public Theater Breaks Ground for Revitalized Delacorte Theater
The Public Theater has commenced the construction of the revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant step in a major renovation project aimed at improving the theater's facilities. The Delacorte Theater is renowned for its Shakespeare in the Park productions, which have been a cultural cornerstone for decades. The project is expected to enhance the theater's accessibility and technical capabilities, further enriching the experience for audiences and performers. This marks a commitment to preserving and enhancing New York City's cultural landmarks for generations to come.
Regional
Raven Theatre Names Adrianna Desier Durantt As Managing Director
Chicago's Raven Theatre has appointed Adrianna Desier Durantt as its new Managing Director. Durantt brings a wealth of experience in the arts and nonprofit sectors. As part of her role, she will work alongside Raven's leadership to enhance the theater's operational and strategic initiatives. The appointment signals an exciting chapter for the theater, aligning with its commitment to delivering exceptional productions and fostering community engagement in the Chicago theater scene.
Connecticut's nonprofit arts and culture organizations have made a substantial economic impact, contributing $1 billion to the state's economy, as revealed in a recent report. This contribution results from various activities, including employment and cultural tourism. The report emphasizes the essential role these organizations play in creating jobs and enriching communities, highlighting their significance beyond artistic and cultural contributions.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is facing a financial deficit of $2.5 million, leading to the cancellation of two productions from its 2023-2024 season. The deficit is attributed to several factors, including the ongoing pandemic and reduced ticket sales. Despite this setback, the theater aims to continue its core educational and community engagement programs. The Repertory Theatre is actively addressing the financial challenges and focusing on maintaining its commitment to artistic excellence.
American Theatre Magazine: New Repertory Theatre to Close Doors After 40 Seasons
The New Repertory Theatre, located in Watertown, Massachusetts, Will Close its doors at the end of the 2022-2023 season. After 40 seasons of presenting diverse theatrical works, the company will cease operations due to financial and operational challenges, particularly exacerbated by the pandemic. The theater had been known for its commitment to addressing pressing social issues through the performing arts. Despite the closure, the legacy of the New Repertory Theatre will endure, as it had contributed significantly to the local arts and cultural scene.
International
National Theatre to Pilot 6:30 PM Performances in February
In an effort to better accommodate and understand new audience habits in a post-covid world, The National Theatre will be piloting 6:30 PM curtain times for select performances starting in February.
Missed our last few newsletters?
From the start of this newsletter in the pandemic, we’ve been covering the evolution of the performing arts industry, and the articles we’ve compiled this week underscore that evolution in a big way. The first of those articles being the very question on if the nonprofit model is still working for arts organizations anymore. Then, in England, we have a story of how drama schools are adapting their curriculums to adapt to the wide changes that are occurring across the industry. What is abundantly clear is that we are still in the middle of the transformation, and that the industry that will ultimately emerge in the post-pandemic world is going to be very different than the one we had going in.
This week, we’re looking at a few different crises facing theatres across the globe - from Pittsburgh, a story on staff turnover causing many organizations to raise wages, causing a new kind of financial strain. Data from Colleen Dilenschnieder suggests that many patrons of performing arts organizations might not realize that the organization is a non-profit, and in the UK, National Theatre Wales is at risk of closing following cuts to their governmental support.
October 2, 2023 - Record Number of New Musicals on Broadway, Some Regional Theatres Report a Rebound
In Minnesota, the Hennepin Theatre Trust recently reported a more than $115 million impact to the local economy, directly tied to their Broadway touring season. We’ve also got a story about the way in which some regional theatres have been able to rebound this past season, and are looking to capitalize on that momentum. Amidst what has felt like some doom and gloom prognostications lately, these are both highly encouraging signs of an industry that is working very hard to build back in a stronger, more sustainable way
BroadwayWorld Resources
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As audiences get set to return to in-person performances, and as your company works to market your own return to the stage, make sure you've got your upcoming shows in our regional events calendars. Listings are free of charge, with boosting options available. Get your show listed now
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