Home / Arts and Entertainment / Broadway in Crisis: Andrew Lloyd Webber Sounds Alarm
Broadway in Crisis: Andrew Lloyd Webber Sounds Alarm
15 Jul
Summary
- Andrew Lloyd Webber expressed deep concern over Broadway's current crisis.
- He cited financial unsustainability for new or daring productions.
- Webber urged theatre owners, unions, and producers to unite and act.
Andrew Lloyd Webber believes Broadway is facing a significant crisis. He expressed profound sadness regarding the current state of productions in Manhattan's theatrical district.
Webber echoed the sentiments of the late director Hal Prince, stating that originating new or daring work on Broadway is no longer financially feasible. He noted that the cost of mounting a show like 'West Side Story' could easily reach $30 million, with weekly break-even costs exceeding $1 million.
This financial pressure forces creators to accept minimal royalties, making it difficult for young talent to sustain a living solely from theatre. While major hits remain profitable, Webber cautioned that Broadway cannot rely on just a few established shows for survival.
He appealed urgently to theatre owners, unions, and producers to convene and tackle this crisis. Webber warned that Broadway is in danger of becoming a landscape of dark theatres, similar to Hollywood's empty soundstages.
