empty theatres and empty seats

The New York Times on how our current economic situation might continue to affect the New York theatre scene:

“We’ve seen economic setbacks before, but what we’re seeing now is very unusual,” said Mr. Freydberg, who has been involved with more than a dozen productions in the past 25 years. “For the first time ever, I’ve looked at our business and said this looks like gigantic trouble.” Investment capital is “the backbone of the industry,” he said, bankrolling the development of new work. As for the nonprofit theaters, a severe drop in donations and audience means “some nonprofits may go under.”

Broadway, however, has been told its days were numbered well before the first musical in 1928. We seem surprised by its persistent resilience and ability to draw an audience.

“Twenty years ago, when I arrived in this business, people were asking the same question, and things haven’t changed,” said Nick Scandalios, executive vice president of the Nederlander Organization, which owns nine Broadway theaters. Since the 1920s people have warned that theater is dying. “I’m actually a little bit more on the optimistic side,” he added, “but I know people out there are scared, just like they are everywhere.”