End of Year Reflections and Looking Forward | TBOT_S04E17 - SHOW MUST CLOSE
In this episode, Darnelle Radford and Mitchell Weiss explore the current state of theater, reflecting on the past year while looking forward to the future. They discuss the impact of streaming and television on live performances, the importance of diversity in entertainment, and the role of regional theaters in fostering creativity. The conversation also touches on the challenges of marketing and audience engagement, the need for new voices in theater, and the significance of education in theater etiquette. They celebrate unique productions like the One Man Nutcracker and share their hopes for the theater landscape in 2026.
Chapters
00:00 The Business of Theater: A Year in Review
02:46 Nostalgia and Classic TV: A Year-End Reflection
05:21 The Impact of Politics on Theater
08:07 Diversity in Entertainment: A Double-Edged Sword
10:44 The Role of Nonprofits in Theater
13:14 Emerging Trends in Television and Theater
16:22 The Future of Theater: Challenges and Opportunities
18:53 Funding and Support for New Works
21:33 Audience Engagement: What Draws Us to Theater?
30:49 The Power of Word of Mouth in Theater
32:05 Nostalgia and the Rehashing of Classics
33:34 The Role of Previews and Press in Theater Success
35:15 Marketing Strategies: Budgeting and Hype
36:52 The Impact of Star Power on Ticket Sales
38:29 The Challenges of Filling Seats in Theater
39:12 Cultural Support for the Arts vs. Sports
41:20 The Nature of Theater: Community Engagement and Scarcity
43:23 The Importance of Audience Education and Etiquette
50:41 Creating a Positive Theater Experience for Young Audiences
52:56 Looking Ahead: New Productions and Future Trends
LINKS:
Kennedy Center Honors Draws 35% Fewer Viewers Than Last Year
Kennedy Center vows to sue musician who canceled performance over Trump name change
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/27/g-s1-103808/kennedy-center-lawsuit-chuck-redd-cancellation-trump
Kennedy Center Confirms More Than 20 Show Cancellations Or Postponements Since Donald Trump’s Takeover
https://deadline.com/2025/03/trump-kennedy-center-cancellations-1236313914/
Broadway League releases audience demographic report for 2024-2025
Why ‘Heated Rivalry’ Can’t Compete at the Emmys — and Likely Won’t Be Able to for Season 2, Either
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/heated-rivalry-emmys-eligibility-season-2-1236619236/
STARMITES (Musical)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starmites
ONE SINGULAR SENSATION:
One-Man Nutcracker (Chris Davis)
Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.
This podcast is an Em3ry production.
Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.
