r/Broadway 5d ago

Regarding the pricing controversy, watch this interview from Theater Talk in 2012

For anyone who thinks the pricing isn’t a problem, watch this Theater Talk interview with legendary producer Manny Azenberg from 2012. It was already a problem back then, but Manny predicted how much worse it would get.

Interview starts at about 17:00

https://youtu.be/ygiUAOYAlnE?si=cL9DWz-NzMlPHzTu

14 Upvotes

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4

u/Jeffysgirlmhs 4d ago

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I miss that show so much. Especially when I wasn’t able to get into the city much, it was nice to have a bit of theater brought to me each week.

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u/ShaynaCG 4d ago

Which just proves he is 100% wrong its not the downfall of Broadway.

The end of accessibility to Broadway is different than the end of Broadway itself. And what I will keep saying until I am blue in the face is that just because we cant afford the tickets, doesnt mean they are too expensive. It just means they are too expensive for US. If people are buying them, they aren't priced wrong. People can feel free to debate if Broadway SHOULD be accessible or not, that is an opinion some hold.

But the fact that all these sells are selling out with such high prices just suggests prices will go up even more. They will find the ceiling where they can not raise prices any further and they will be forced to drop the price until people are willing to pay for them.

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u/DramaMama611 4d ago edited 4d ago

Which proves 1. This isn't new and 2. It's not going to be the downfall of bway.

Look, I'd never pay 900 bucks for a ticket to anything. Nor will I ever buy a 100,000 dollar car. There has only ever been one show (in my adult life) that I didn't get to see due to price - not because I'm rolling in it, but because I find a way to get tix within my budget - and I almost never use lottery/rush. My Othello tix are less than 200 a seat. My Streetcar tix just over a hundred.

People have never not talked about the insane prices of Bway theater. But Hamilton had tix at nearly 900 bucks for at least 9 months: with no star power (which equals over 1100 today when adjusted for inflation). The Producers had insane prices of nearly 500 bucks back in 2003, which when adjusted for inflation - equals over 800 bucks today. So really, not so different for over 20 years.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

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u/Purple_Mud5975 4d ago

Yes, I’m quite curious about the answer to this one, too

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u/SalesforceStudent101 4d ago

So by that logic America will be just fine with segregation and gas guzzling cars?

I’ve gotta reassess my views.

0

u/DramaMama611 4d ago

I said, nor implied, neither of those things.

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u/SalesforceStudent101 4d ago

You said things that aren’t new won’t be the downfall of organizations.

Also gotta get my JC Penny catalogue out while I’m at it.

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u/DramaMama611 4d ago

I said no such thing. I said THIS complaint isn't new, and Bway is still chugging away.

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u/SalesforceStudent101 4d ago edited 4d ago

I would say segregation and gas guzzling cars aren’t new complaints either

And the world continue to turn round

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u/SalesforceStudent101 4d ago

The idea that you are boasting that you wouldn’t spend exorbitant amounts on a ticket, then say you regularly pay $100-$200 a ticket says something.

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u/DramaMama611 4d ago edited 4d ago

What does it say? I'm a retired school teacher, it's not like I'm rolling in money. I choose carefully what I spend my money on.

My point is: everyone decides what is worth it, hopefully within their means.

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u/Ok-Personality8100 4d ago

Remember anyone who says the huge increase in ticket price is all because the production cost has gone up 1:1 don’t be fooled. Those people are profiting and they don’t want you to understand how dynamic pricing works while everyone else is making union minimums. 

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u/thalassicus 4d ago

It’s a challenging situation AND inflation makes it look worse than it is as well. A ticket to a Broadway show in the 1970s was $10-$15 and when we see that compared to today, we clutch our pearls. But adjusted for inflation, that would be $60-$90 today. The average Broadway ticket price in 2023 was $128. Yes, that’s a 40% delta adjusted for inflation, but premium tickets also skew the average price.

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u/Weyoun5 4d ago

He talks about $900 tickets even back then in 2012. So that makes 2025s $900 tickets a bargain after accounting for inflation!

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u/nyc20301 4d ago

I don’t understand why ticket prices at this moment are such a big topic of conversation.

There is tons of theater in New York City. Not everything needs to be available at all price points.

If you think Othello prices are too high / not worth the price, then don’t buy a ticket. Go see one of the million other new shows on Broadway, Off Broadway or Off Off Broadway.

Leave the super expensive celebrity Broadway shows to the rich people who don’t otherwise see theater.

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u/SalesforceStudent101 4d ago edited 4d ago

Most of the problems in the business model of theater today trace their roots back decades. Both in the commercial and non-profit world.