tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15527783.post1182866258189750091..comments2023-09-29T03:23:53.191-07:00Comments on Stage Thrust, with Bobo the Theater Ho: NT broadcastsJoelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16492478732621202655noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15527783.post-6430871636193851802009-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:002009-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:00The New York Times is running a series of articles...The New York Times is running a series of articles answering reader questions. <BR/><BR/>http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/answers-about-broadway-part-1/?ref=theater<BR/><BR/>Much of the first edition focuses on the economics of Broadway and hooks into this posting of yours.<BR/>The respondents, Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik, cite producer fears that seeing Braodway shows for free on TV will limit interest in paying to go to New York (whether from New Rochelle or New Mexico) to pay exorbitant prices to see the real thing--or even to pay far less exorbitant prices to see the pale imitations on tour.<BR/><BR/>Audience activities give the lie to this notion. Examples range from toddlers re-viewing their favorite Backyardigans episode ad nauseum to tourists (going back to Washington Irving and earlier) seeking some communion with authenticity at Shakespeare's birthplace or, more recently, at Ground Zero. My own introduction to theatre was through a television broadcast of a Broadway show and I could not contain my excitement at having the opportunity to see the revival on Broadway.<BR/><BR/>Even with all the complications of splitting the royalties and shooting the production the National Theatre and the Met Opera have the right idea. Now how do we help Broadway producers see that?<BR/><BR/>-Bill GaarAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com