TBOT_S02E10 - EP.43 - End of 2023
Today on the podcast, we wrap up a trying year in theatre with an article from American Theatre Magazine on theatre in crisis. Although, it is not all gloom and doom. It’s the business…let’s get down to it.
Summary
In this conversation, Darnelle Radford and Mitch Weiss discuss various topics related to the theater industry. They share their recent theater experiences, highlight the struggles faced by the industry, and discuss the need for a theatrical revolution. They also touch on the limited reach of theater and the changing landscape of critics and influencers. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the marketing challenges faced by the theater industry. This conversation explores various topics related to the theater industry, including the desire for new stories, the role of critics, the challenges of attracting audiences to plays, the impact of restrictions on theater attendance, the changing rules for children in theater, budgeting for theater shows, the role of critics and Tony Awards, eliminating artistic directors, board responsibility and leadership, founder syndrome and succession planning, and the importance of collaboration and understanding in theater administration.
Takeaways
The theater industry continues to struggle, with limited funding and high costs.
Broadway shows and theme park-like experiences are thriving, while smaller theater companies face financial difficulties.
The reach of theater is limited, with a small percentage of the population regularly attending shows.
The role of critics is changing, with influencers and social media playing a larger role in shaping public opinion.
Marketing challenges persist in the theater industry, with the need to attract new audiences and adapt to changing consumer behaviors. There is a group of people with a great desire to see something new and hear stories they haven't already heard.
Critics play a crucial role in summarizing and promoting plays, but their reviews can sometimes be misleading or biased.
Musicals tend to do better than plays on Broadway because they attract a larger audience, but plays can still be successful with adequate publicity.
Restrictions on theater attendance, such as age limits, can impact the audience demographic and the type of shows that are produced.
Nonprofit theater organizations should focus on building strong boards and developing leadership within the organization to ensure continuity and success.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Title
01:14 Holiday Break and Theater Experiences
03:10 Struggles in the Theater Industry
10:49 Theater Funding and Nonprofits
13:03 Broadway vs. Theme Park Shows
14:49 The Need for a Theatrical Revolution
19:58 The Limited Reach of Theater
23:09 The Changing Landscape of Critics and Influencers
28:10 Marketing Challenges in the Theater Industry
38:11 The Desire for New Stories
39:29 Documenting Real Life
40:12 Musicals vs. Plays on Broadway
41:23 The Role of Critics
42:23 Restrictions on Theater Attendance
44:31 Changing Rules for Children in Theater
45:57 Budgeting for Theater Shows
47:21 The Role of Critics and Tony Awards
48:18 Eliminating Artistic Directors
51:51 Board Responsibility and Leadership
54:49 The Role of Boards in Nonprofit Theater
58:18 Founder Syndrome and Succession Planning
59:56 Promotion and Training in Theater Administration
01:01:37 The Importance of Collaboration and Understanding
01:01:59 Closing Remarks
WORKING TITLE:
The World As We Know It Has Changed
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REJECTED TITLES:
May Your Days Be Merry An Bright
American Theatre - On reason theatre is in crisis, the slow death of criticism.
Manchester's Contact to reduce output and scrap artistic director model https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/manchesters-contact-to-reduce-output-and-scrap-artistic-director-model?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Stage%20daily%20newsletter
BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS https://broadwaycares.org/
Here’s to us. Who’s like us? Damn Few.
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