Frozen on Broadway
Frozen on Broadway just announced their permanent closing on Broadway.
To some, this isn’t a big deal. “There will be a revival”, “it’ll go on tour”, “it’ll be fine”. All things I’ve heard. And while these things may be true, you truly do not understand what this means for the live entertainment industry.
Disney decided that this show cannot run anymore. Disney had money. If such a huge company like this cannot afford to keep a show open, what about all the smaller shows? What happens to them?
I’m going to graduate with a BFA in Stage Management. My entire career depends on the theatre industry being alive and well. There are millions of actors, directors, musicians, designers, technicians, etc. who are out of work. Our industry will not be coming back the same way that every other one will.
We cannot have jobs if no one comes to see our shows. If people don’t feel that it’s safe to be around 500+ other people at one time, we don’t have an industry. Shows don’t stay open if we only sell at 40% capacity. Shows won’t stay open if we only sell a percentage of tickets and bump up prices. No one will come see them.
Telling me that theatre is going to be the same is a boldfaced lie. I know that it won’t be the same. And as someone who accumulated a lot of debt dedicating 4+ years of school to my craft, I am scared. I don’t know what I’m going to do if the industry doesn’t come back.