Category: theatre

“Apparently, sales of baked beans rise during a recession. It’s not just to do with the fact that beans on toast is cheap. It’s also a search after something reassuring from our childhood days. When times are bad people want the equivalent of comfort food in the theatre too.”

“Record high gas prices last year, along with a 50 percent drop in area tourism and a loss of donations from supporters hurt by the stock market slump, have left the professional theater in financial crisis. The theater, now in its 33rd year, was operating in the black until the confluence of these negative economic factors. It now faces a $350,000 budget shortfall for the upcoming year.”

“Just this week, Richard Pulford, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, credited big stars with bringing bigger business to the West End last year. So, what do we actors think? Truth be told, stars are almost essential nowadays in Theatreland, be they home-grown or imported. Stick a movie star or a modish comedian on the poster and you can quadruple your advance receipts in a trice.”

“Sometimes getting praise from a critic is like having a proctologist tell you you’ve got a nice ass – -sooner or later, there’s still some pain to come.” That’s Center Theatre Group’s Michael Ritchie in a conversation with other LA theatre heads about the need for criticism. (Why are we not linking directly to the show on LA’s KPCC, where the conversation took place? Because Mac users seem to be out of luck if they want to listen in.)

“Broadway’s two dozen dark theaters won’t stay empty for long. Defying the economic slump, producers are scheduled to present 19 Broadway shows in the next three months. If they all arrive ahead of the June 7 Tony awards, the 2008-09 season will go down as the busiest in two decades, with 40 new productions. … The emphasis is on star-driven plays, which cost a fraction of what it takes to produce a musical.”

“With a few exceptions, most of the Bay Area’s large and midsize theater companies are cutting back. But most are also showing signs of fundamental strength in the first year of what is expected to be a long financial downturn.”

“From large theatrical enterprises to midsize houses to the vast array of 99-seat venues stretching from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County, many local stages are feeling the pinch, or in some cases the vise grip, of the world economic downturn.” For nonprofits, tight funds are nothing new. “But for some local theaters, years of thrifty budgeting may no longer provide a sufficient defense against looming calamity.”

Ben Brantley observes that Piven’s departure allowed David Mamet “to come up with his funniest one-liner in years.” And yet, “now that I have seen two of Mr. Piven’s replacements in the central role of Bobby Gould, a film producer who catches a slight case of existential crisis, I am newly respectful of both Mr. Mamet’s accomplishment here and of the artistry of first-rate actors.”

“Will Ferrell proved one of the few bright spots last week at the Broadway box office, which saw sales at almost every production fall in the January chill. The first week of Ferrell’s ‘You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush’ pulled in a robust $837,353 … and played to full houses.” So Broadway learns, yet again, that a star will draw crowds, no matter what.

“The Nederlander Organization has acquired the rights to produce a musical version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller,’ the organization announced today.” Based on the “Thriller” video, the musical is authorized by Jackson, which sets it apart from the current Michael Jackson tribute show in the West End.