06-26-86 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 June 16, 1986 In the past 10 seasons, average ticket T H EATERS, price has climbed from $9.86 to $29.20 AUDS & ARENAS ' * * * ! # * ' Baltimore is hosting a Theater of Lia- tions festival this month, sponsored po by Broadway's experience parallels what is the United Nations, but its big public- happening at movie box offices, as the ity came from uproar over staging of 1985-86 season that ended June 1 fell Orwell's Animal Farm. Production was to low points on the decade. Variety taken out of "Festival" context and bannered statistics on the "fabulous staged independently the Senate invalid" of Broadway and of the 1980s tax bill proposal has been criticized which it termed "a nightmare from which by performers because it would end de- Broadway can't awaken." Receipts fell ductions for expenses such as pictures, for the 2nd year in a row--to lowest resumes, class/coach fees, union dues, point in 6 years; attendance fell for commissions and out-of-town expenses. 5th consecutive season. * * * * * * * * Box office gross of $190.6 million was AT&T, the largest employer in New Jer- lowest Broadway total in 7 seasons, and sey, is providing $500,000 over 3 yrs was a 8% drop from last season. Since to fund support for 8 arts organizations box office prices have risen, the drop in the state: Crossroads Theatre, the is even more significant. Attendance Garden State Ballet, McCarter Theatre, was down 9% from last year to 6 .5 mil- New Brunswick Cultural Center, the New lion--and was about 40% below the 10.8 Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Newark million attendance of 1980-81 season. Museum, Princeton Ballet and the Whole Tour/road receipts rose for 3rd year to Theater New Jersey ranks 9th $235.6 million, while playing weeks de- in per capita support (thru state con- clined by 10 to 983. Big musicals were tributions) for state arts groups. Its "huge" hits on the road. Straight dra- total of $10.4 million was up 67% over ma has virtually "vanished from the 1985. touring road," Variety noted. Future road stats may suffer, since it's been • 2 years since a hit musical (that was The Lowell, Mass. Memorial Auditorium "La Cage aux Folles") hit Broadway. was never really meant to be a concert hall, but after a two-year shutdown, The ratio of hits is now 1 in 8, with and $6.7 million in renovations, the only 5 shows paying off this season: facility has taken on new life since Benefactors, I'm Not Rappaport, the reopening last October. Community use female cast of The Odd Couple, Tango had been 80% before, and is now about Argentino, and Lily Tomlin's solo 20% with name acts filling dates at Search for Signs. The Mystery of the city-owned hall. Edwin Drood` won 5 Tonys June 1 and could become a big hit. Big River has moved into profit. Leisurek corL • ��r\\i •C ��-~rte'- =�._..✓�' a....___..e.� o Marj Jensen, Editor (202) 232-7107 13 P.O. Box 27488, Washington, D.C. 20038-7488 P >. '-FIRSTHosIDASSIMiL � � � 2401 HwyP410nds View11111 Mounds View, MN 55112