Contemporary Theatre (Theatre in the United States) Despite a wealth of theatre festivals, Broadway remains the standard for acceptance and success. However, only about 10% of the productions offered on Broadway get their start there. Most productions start in London or non- Broadway theatres, or are revivals. Between 1967 and 1997, the cost to mount a production on Broadway increased between 350% and 400% - meaning it is expensive to put up a show. Broadway produces very few spoken language dramas, relying primarily on musicals for its economic health. The famous street in New York City, NY that is now the world’s theatre “capital”: Broadway. Image: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/11-reasons-broadway-musicals-are-the-best 1

Contemporary Theatre (Theatre in the United States) In the late 1980s and 90s, Broadway was most hospitable to the English musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber. In 1996 Cats became the longest-running production in Broadway’s history, with 7485 performances and earnings of more than $400 million! Through the early 1990s, Stephen Sondheim was the most popular American musical composer. His output decreased considerably after that time, however. The most popular American musical in the late 1990’s was Jonathan Larson’s Rent. Larson died just prior to the show’s opening. Rent is based on Puccini’s La Bohême. 2 Image: Various

Contemporary Theatre (Theatre in the United States) In the late 1990s, many musicals were more like dance entertainments than traditional musicals. These included Fosse, Riverdance, and Stomp. In the early 2000s musicals returned to their book form, but started a new trend: adapting popular movies for the stage. Examples include The Producers, The Full Monty, and The Lion King. However, the most popular musicals of the 2000s decade were: Wicked, Jersey Boys, and The Color Purple Followed closely by Spamalot, Mama Mia!, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Shows like Riverdance are more like dance entertainment than musicals, but were quite popular in the late 90’s. Image: http://lasvegastickets.com/Theatre/Riverdance-Information 3

Contemporary Theatre (Theatre in the United States) Broadway had fallen into disrepair and was not revived until the start of the 42nd Street Development Project. The project began in 1984 with both local and state support. This resulted in the reclamation and establishment of the New Victory Theatre (opened 1995), which is devoted to productions for young audiences. The Disney Corporation took over the Ziegfeld Theatre and renamed it the New Amsterdam Theatre, and opened The Lion King. (Aladdin plays there currently.) The Selden Theatre was transformed into the American Airlines Theatre. This is now home to the Roundabout Theatre company, the second-larges non-profit company in America. Before and after the New Amsterdam’s restoration by the Disney Corp. in the early 90s. Image: http://evergreene.com/news/2014/10/evergreene-at-the-ohny-wknd/ 4

Contemporary Theatre (Theatre in the United States) The difference between a Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway theatre is primarily contractual, based on Actors Equity standards. Broadway theatres have a seating capacity of 500 or more. Off-Broadway theatres can seat between 100 and 499. Off-off-Broadway theatres can seat up to 99. Most spoken-word dramas produced in New York appear in off-Broadway or off-off-Broadway theatres. Circle in the Square was one of the most important off- Broadway houses in the 1950s. It went bankrupt in the 90s. The Public Theatre is now one of the most important off-Broadway theatres. This is where Hamilton and other famous productions got their start! The Public Theatre. Image: http://www.arielamorgenstern.com/blog/ 5