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Wednesday, 3 October, 2001, 10:02 GMT 11:02 UK

Broadway shows recovery signs


Broadway cast
Cast members take part in a campaign to boost ticket sales
Some Broadway shows have announced a pick-up in ticket sales in the last week following the sudden drop in audiences after the terror attacks of 11 September.

The comedy Tale of the Allergist's Wife, 42nd Street and Cabaret were among the productions to show a positive rise in takings from 24 to 30 September.

The figures were released on Tuesday by the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Broadway
The sudden drop in ticket sales following the terror attacks led to four Broadway shows closing and others cutting their actors' pay.

Though box office sales are considerably down on the same time in previous years, play Tale of the Allergist's Wife took $319,100 (£217,500) last week - up some $65,000 (£44,000) from the previous week.

The figure was also higher than before the terror attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington.

Musical 42nd Street performed to 80% capacity audiences and reported takings of more than $722,000 (£492,000).

Another classic musical, Cabaret, did even better, playing to audiences that were 98% full, although it had reduced some ticket prices.

Tourists

Some new productions also showed encouraging signs, with musical Urinetown playing to theatres that were 90% full.

The drop in audiences following 11 September was due to the sombre mood of the US public.

Cats

But a fall in foreign tourists travelling to the US also had a marked effect.

There were also signs of a moderate pick-up in this area. Favourite tourist shows Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera reported audience sizes rose to 50%.

New York's Mayor Rudolph Giuliani urged the public to start going out and trying to enjoy themselves, which would in turn help the local economy get back on its feet.

And as well as staff pay cuts, other measures taken on Broadway to boost ticket sales included a huge advertising campaign to win back theatre-goers.

This involved a recording of the Frank Sinatra classic New York, New York by 100 music stars, accompanied by a video shot in Times Square.

In London, theatres said this week they were beginning to monitor ticket sales over fears the West End could suffer in the same way as Broadway.

The Stage newspaper reported that the Society of London Theatre is to compile weekly statistics to check box office takings.

The paper said the news was prompting fears there would be a demand for substantial wage cuts for UK casts and crews, similar to those in New York.


Related to this story:
Beauty threatened with closure (02 Oct 01 | Showbiz) Broadway box office receipts rise (27 Sep 01 | Showbiz) Reprieve for Kiss Me Kate (24 Sep 01 | Showbiz) Broadway begins fight back (25 Sep 01 | Showbiz) Tourism shaken to the core (21 Sep 01 | Americas) Cash aid for struggling Broadway (18 Sep 01 | Showbiz) Broadway shows signal closure (18 Sep 01 | Arts) West End fears downturn (27 Sep 01 | Arts)


Internet links: Actors' Equity Association | Broadway.com | Society of London Theatre | The Stage |
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