Industry Pro Newsletter: Broadway vs Resellers, A Deeper Look at the Dallas Theater Center Cuts

This week, we talk about the reintroduction of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, which provides tax relief for performing artists. We also report on AMC Networks' partnership with the Black Theatre Coalition, which aims to support diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry through production and casting fellowships. Finally, we cover the challenges that Broadway faces with ticket resellers, and how this affects both producers and customers. We discuss the various official ticket sellers for Broadway shows and how having multiple sellers can ameliorate some problems, but consumers may still struggle to find direct box office tickets.

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Employment Opportunity

Front of House - Shakespeare in the Park

The Public is seeking friendly, professional, and motivated front-of-house staff, mainly ushers, with exemplary customer service skills for the 2023 Free Shakespeare in the Park Season at the Delacorte Theater, The Public's open-air venue in Central Park. This is a part-time seasonal position. Click here to learn more...

Industry Trends

PTPA Re-Introduced, Would Provide Tax Relief for Performing Artists

The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act has been reintroduced, which would provide tax deductions for performing artists. The bill is designed to help performers who incur a lot of expenses but are not always eligible for tax breaks. The Department for Professional Employees (DPE) has responded in support of the bill, stating that it will help to ensure that all workers in the entertainment industry are treated fairly. Click here to read more...

AMC and Black Theatre Coalition Announce Fellowships

AMC Networks has partnered with the Black Theatre Coalition to offer production and casting fellowships to support diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. The program will provide opportunities for individuals from underrepresented groups to work on AMC's productions and gain valuable experience. The initiative is part of AMC's ongoing efforts to increase diversity and representation in their programming. Click here to read more...

Broadway/New York

Nederlander & Disney Expand Official Buying Options as Broadway Struggles With Ticket Resellers by Cara Joy David

Last week, my friend Michelle, inspired by my story on Alli Mauzey's talent, went to buy tickets to KIMBERLY AKIMBO. She went to SeatGeek. Why? Because the last time she went to a show, it was FUNNY GIRL, and I told her SeatGeek was the box office, so she assumed that was true for all Broadway theaters. Except, Telecharge is the official site for KIMBERLY AKIMBO tickets. The tickets on SeatGeek were resale tickets. The price difference was $50 per ticket: the ticket price for the resale ticket was $20 higher for a mezz seat and the service fee per ticket was $30 higher.

Michelle is certainly not alone--while the concert industry suffers under a Ticketmaster monopoly, Broadway's fragmented ticket sellers present unique challenges. It used to be that the two official online sellers of Broadway tickets were Ticketmaster and The Shubert Organization-owned Telecharge, but in the last decade more sellers have entered the game. Second Stage uses its own internal ticketing. Roundabout uses its own internal system for its productions and, in July 2022, adopted another system it developed, Criterion Ticketing, for rental productions. In 2021, Jujamcyn went to SeatGeek (after switching from Telecharge to Ticketmaster five years prior). After flirting with a Telecharge-Ambassador Theatre Group hybrid when it first opened the Hudson, ATG now uses its own service for both its Broadway theaters. (Word is that after its "multi-year" contract with SeatGeek expires, Jujamcyn will move to ATG ticketing, but a spokesperson for the organizations denies there is any plan to abandon SeatGeek.) Search "Broadway tickets" on Google and the first entries are not official ticket sellers. This often leads to buyers purchasing tickets at a high base price and/or with exorbitant fees.

Luckily, there has been some progress. Since August 2021, direct box office tickets from shows at Nederlander Organization theaters and Disney's New Amsterdam are now available on Telecharge as well as Ticketmaster. These same tickets are also available from The Nederlander Organization-owned Broadway Direct, a lesser-known ticket source. (In August 2022, Nederlander purchased TixTrack, a ticketing company, and there are grumblings that the organization will eventually launch its own internal system.) Service fees are different depending on where one purchases, so those in-the-know can comparison shop.

"We think people really like Telecharge and they like the customer service they get with us," said Todd Rappaport, Shubert's Director of Marketing & Communications. "Being able to serve customers and offer the widest breadth of shows that they can buy is our goal."

Rappaport stressed that Telecharge customers like calling and getting real New Yorkers answering their inquiries. However, for years, producers have had concerns about Telecharge. They resent paying Shubert lucrative service fees, believe the customer-facing portion of the site is dated and question the site's stability. As a positive, however, Telecharge was built for the theater, and so its backend offers more easily accessible information for producers. (Producers pull information from ticketing services about purchases and purchasers.) Ticketmaster was the opposite--it was seen to have a better customer experience, but a worse backend. And Ticketmaster, as well as later entry SeetGeak, have another feature that riles producers: they offer resale tickets.

"Listing resale alongside direct sale is our greatest existential threat," one producer said. "Broadway is already associated with unattainable ticket prices. Now even ticket buyers who've been attending Broadway shows for decades can't get a clear read on how much a ticket costs because of sky-high asking prices from the secondary market popping up when they search for tickets."

Neither Telecharge nor Broadway Direct offers resale tickets. Both also link to or list other ticket sellers if they do not sell the tickets themselves. Ideally, having multiple official sellers ameliorates several problems--there won't be a monopoly and people will be able to find direct box office tickets easier. But there is still the problem of getting people to the relevant ticket sites or any site that lists official ticket sellers (such as the Broadway League's Broadway.org). Until that happens, general consumers are always going to be buying tickets from third-party sellers, and they are never fully going to understand actual ticket prices. This is true irrespective of the new ticketing laws.

Todd Haimes, Revitalized Roundabout, Passes Away at Age 66

Todd Haimes, the Artistic Director and CEO of Roundabout Theatre Company, has passed away at the age of 66. Haimes led the company for over 30 years, overseeing numerous productions on and off Broadway. He was known for his commitment to fostering new talent and promoting diversity in the theater community. Click here to read more...

54 Below to Become Non-Profit

54 Below, the popular cabaret venue in New York City, has announced that it will become a non-profit organization. The move is designed to help the venue weather the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic and to continue to support emerging artists. The venue plans to offer more programming, including educational opportunities for aspiring performers. Click here to read more...

Regional

A Deeper Look at the Cuts at Dallas Theater Center

The Dallas Theater Center has announced layoffs and cutbacks in response to financial challenges. The company has been hit hard by the pandemic and is struggling to stay afloat. The layoffs will affect both administrative staff and artists, and the company has also had to cancel several productions. Click here to read more...

Leda Hoffman in as Managing Director at Door Shakespeare

Door Shakespeare, which specializes in outdoor Shakespeare productions, has named Leda Hoffmann to the role of Managing Director. Hoffmann has extensive experience in theater, having worked as a director, performer, and educator. Click here to read more...

Leadership Changes at the Wilma in Philadelphia

The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia has announced changes to its leadership team and upcoming season. The theater will be led by a new Managing Director, and the company has announced a lineup of productions that includes both classics and new works. The theater is committed to diversity and inclusion and has made efforts to reach out to underrepresented communities. Click here to read more...

Paul Pierce to Depart Springer Opera House

Paul Pierce, the Producing Artistic Director of the Springer Opera House in Georgia, has announced that he will step down from his role. Pierce has been with the company for over a decade and has overseen numerous productions. He is leaving to pursue other opportunities in the theater industry. Click here to read more...

International

New Shakespeare Museum Coming to London

A new interactive museum dedicated to the life of William Shakespeare will be opened in the archaeological remains of The Curtain Playhouse in Shoreditch, East London. The Museum of Shakespeare will focus on the culture of London in the 16th Century and the life and inspirations of the famous playwright. The archaeological excavation of the Curtain Playhouse between 2011 and 2016 revealed its remains, which will be made publicly accessible for the first time in the museum. It is designed by creative studio Bompas & Parr in collaboration with Museum of London Archaeology and Historic England and is set to open in spring 2024. Click here to read more...

Body Cams In Use as Theatres Increase Security

London theaters are increasing security measures in response to unruly audiences. Body cameras are being worn by some ushers to help deter bad behavior, and some venues are also implementing stricter policies for latecomers and those who disrupt performances. The measures are designed to help ensure that theatergoers can enjoy performances without being disturbed. Click here to read more...

Missed our last few newsletters?

April 17, 2023 - A Touring Contract Agreement, Tony Eligibility Rulings for Nonbinary Performers

​​In this week's newsletter, Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League have come to an agreement on touring contracts, which include salary increases, better benefits, and increased safety protocols for touring productions. In addition, President Joe Biden has appointed a number of high-profile artists, such as Lady Gaga and Lin-Manuel Miranda, to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Furthermore, a recent ruling on Tony eligibility has raised questions about Tony nominators and nonbinary performers. Finally, we learn that the New York City Council has passed a ticket transparency law, which requires that primary ticket sellers disclose to customers any resale restrictions on tickets and provide detailed information about fees and taxes, a move opposed by the Broadway League. Click here to read more...

April 10, 2023 - Shucked's Journey to Broadway, A Complete Awards Season Calendar

Actors' Equity Association has threatened to strike over touring contracts. The union opposes proposed changes to contracts by the Broadway League that would reduce pay for actors and stage managers on national tours. SHUCKED, a musical that debuted in Utah, has raised questions about the use of non-profit venues for regional tryouts, which allow producers to develop shows with less media attention and at lower costs. The Tank, a non-profit arts organization in New York City, has launched a new producers cohort program to provide mentorship to producers from underrepresented communities. Harold Steward has been named the new Executive Director of the New England Foundation for the Arts, while Kimberly E. Douglas has been named the new Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Click here to read more...

April 3, 2023 - AEA Forms a PAC, Visa Fees for Artists on the Rise, Winners of the Oliviers

AEA has created a Political Action Committee that will help advance the interests of its members through political advocacy, lobbying, and electoral support. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is considering increasing visa fees for International Artists and entertainers traveling to the US. The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, which recognizes outstanding plays written by women, has been won by playwright Sarah Mantell for their play "In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot". Finally, the Lucille Lortel Theatre, a well-known rental venue in New York City, is expanding its footprint and has purchased a new building in Chelsea to develop new works, with playwright Caridad Svich as Artistic Director of New Play Development and Michael Heitzman as Artistic Director of New Musical Development. Click here to read more...

BroadwayWorld Resources

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