Sunday, January 4, 2009

Broadway Blues

If you want proof, real demonstrative evidence that the economy is bad then it doesn't get any more clear than this: a record thirteen shows are closing on Broadway this month.

Perhaps it's only fitting that it's 13, that most unlucky of numbers.

These closings include some really big hits, certified audience-pleasers like Hairspray, Spamalot, Spring Awakening, and Young Frankenstein. The end of Hairspray and Spamalot are, in particular, significant since they've been running for years. But audience demand obviously isn't big enough right now to justify the costs and so the markets have rendered their verdict.

An aquaintance of mine who works as a roadie and show-techie told me that January will be a bizarre month for him and his brethren. There will be tons of work this month as these shows are loaded out of the theaters but after that ... nothing ... And not only will stage hands be out of work but so will all those back up singers and dancers in the big musicals. Hard, hard times in Broadwayland. My best to them all.


It might be interesting yet sad to walk around the Theater District some night in early February. Around 7:30 on any given show night, the streets are usually jammed to overflowing with theater-goers. It'll be interesting to see just how diminished the crowds are. That's when it'll really hit home.

Amazingly, none of these closing shows include The Phantom of the Opera. This show will have been on Broadway 21 years this month! Imagine ... this is the first Broadway show that's actually legally old enough to drink. Who are all these people keeping this show alive after two decades?


Well, for the time being, let's be thankful for them.

1 comment:

  1. Everyone needs to see Spring Awakening. Now.

    ReplyDelete

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