Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Broadway Sets More Records

The week between Christmas and New Year's is usually the biggest of the year and this one was no exception. 15 shows grossed more than $1 million at the box office, which isn't so surprising since more and more tickets were priced at "premium" levels of $250 to $300 and more. This practice is going to keep spreading and spreading until NO good seats will ever be available to a Broadway show for less than $200 or $300, especially Friday and Saturday night. "Dreamgirls" made a lot of money at the movies by having a one-week run with $25 tickets; they also gave you a program and other souveniers. But they weren't stupid enought to do it for the entire run throughout the country. Imagine if "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" charged $20 tickets for Friday and Saturday primetime screenings when it opens next May. Think that would be a smart move by the film industry. Of course, a Broadway play has a limited number of seats available, while a movie studio has a relatively limitless supply of theater screens. But the long-term damage of this practice is obvious: middle class theater goers are being squeezed out, will stop going to Broadway regularly and young people will almost never get any exposure to Broadway.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If the movies start charging $20-$25 tickets for premium nights, I won't be seeing any movies on premium nights. That is simply too expensive for the average person, and god forbid you bring your family! I wanted to see DG's when it opened but refused to pay the $25 tix. Nor can I afford the road versions of the B/way shows when they are here in SF which cost $100 and up. While on the subject, I can't afford the symphony, opera, or ballet either!! Interestingly, I was able to afford NASCAR tix and the Monstor Truck show.

Michael in New York said...

And I can afford the rodeo, which is coming to Madison Square Garden this weekend with a bottom ticket price of $15. I wouldn't have paid $25 for Dreamgirls either.