Category: theatre

Broadway had a healthy year at the box office in 2004. Productions took $748.9 million, up from $725.4 million the previous year. One of the big reasons: “Overseas tourists are now back at the same numbers as they were prior to September 11. Overseas visitors accounted for 12% of ticket sales, double that of last year.

Critics may not be finding much to love on Broadway this year, but the Great White Way has regained its financial footing after a couple of dismal box office seasons. “A rise in foreign visitors plus a host of successful new openings” have led to a $23.5 million uptick in ticket sales for the year, and the number of foreign tourists attending shows has returned to pre-9/11 numbers.

Sikh protests in Birmingham of the controversial play Behzti were the result of a breakdown of meetings between the theatre and Sikh leaders. “The theatre did not plan to close the play even after a section of the 400-strong crowd of Sikh demonstrators attempted to storm the theatre on December 18, and death threats were made against the writer. The decision was only taken after a meeting with police and community leaders.”

Nathan Lane has had to quit the London production of The Producers. Doctors say he is sufferin from two slipped disks. “The show’s spokesman said Lane was expected to recover in six weeks, enabling him to start shooting the film version at the end of February.”

Some theatres are finding they can raise real money auctioning off items on Ebay, where fans are happy to bid on props and costumes that have been used in shows. “From live auctions to black-tie balls, fundraisers are a necessity for most arts organizations. But using the enormously popular eBay electronic marketplace to augment ticket sales and local philanthropy is a new wrinkle. It is a different way to connect with the world of people who support the theater, who write an annual contribution, and to reach a larger audience.”

Author Salman Rushdie, who had to go into hiding after being the subject of a religious fatwa, says he’s dismayed to see the response of official Britain to the death threats against a Sikh playwright in Birmingham. “It has been horrifying to see the response. It is pretty terrible to hear government ministers expressing approval of the ban and failing to condemn the violence, when they should be supporting freedom of expression.”

“Look at the shows that have opened so far in the 2004-05 season, and you see a sea of revivals and stand-up comedy. There was a time when it was thrilling to see classics reinterpreted, reconceived or rediscovered. But for the most part many of the dusted-off shows are museum pieces. This would be fine if they were surrounded by other productions of new plays and musicals. But at season’s midpoint, anything that doesn’t have a pre-sold brand name of some kind might as well head straight for regional theater hills (not that we’re facing a renaissance of nationwide creativity there either).”

“Due to a range of factors, from overspending on a few high-profile productions to a stagnant, post-Sept. 11 economy, the Rep emerged from the brief Michael Bush era owing more money than it ever had before. Deep cuts in state funding made a bad situation worse. Now, facing a persistent and growing gap between income and expenditures, Rep officials say the company is in real danger of going under.”

London’s West End theatres are getting closer to opening for Sunday performances. “West End Union leaders representing theatre technicians voted for the move on Monday which includes a 5.5% pay rise and double time for working Sundays. The remaining workers will now vote on whether to accept the agreement.”

A second UK theatre has abandoned plans to stage a controversial play. The theatre had planned to “invite theatres across the country to read the play and discuss it afterwards, to have a debate so there was more understanding about the whole issue. But that plan was canceled after the play’s author called and asked for the cancellation because of “increased threats” to her safety. The theatre itself had also received several threatening phone calls.