The Economy of Theatre

Question 1

Government-Supported Theatre

Answer 1

*Royal Theatre: Louis XIV generously supported the arts, but placed extreme limitations on what could be produced

Question 2

National Theatre: England

Answer 2

• most prosperous national theatre communities
  
  1. National Theatre
  2. Royal Shakespeare Company
  3. English Stage Co.
     - supports a wide array of new/classic plays

Question 3

National Theatre: US

Answer 3

• the US does NOT have a national theatre

* NEA: National Endowment of the Arts, where the US gov’t gives a small amount of money to support the arts

Question 4

Federal Theatre Project

Answer 4

*created with the WPA during the Depression in 1935. “The Cradle Will Rock”, written by John Houseman and Orsen Wells, a musical about the labor movement during the Great Depression

Question 5

Living Newspaper

Answer 5

*incorporated historical quotes with fictional accounts; politically driven; part of the Federal Theatre Project

Question 6

Commercial Theatre

Answer 6

• designed to make money, or at least pay for itself
• Broadway Theatre District is the center of commercial theatre internationally, beginning in late 18th century
  
  • averages 30 productions per annum
• producers make an investment in hopes of getting their money back when a show is successful

Question 7

Types of Shows (not Broadway)

Answer 7

1. Touring: can be equity or non-eq
2. Off-Broadway: 499 seats of less; began in Greenwich
3. Off Off Broadway: 100 seats or less; smaller scale productions which make little to no money

Question 8

Non-Profit Theatre

Answer 8

• intention of theater is not to just make money (many of these are regional or community theaters)
• MUST have a mission statement
• fundraisers, sponsors, and ticket sales fund these theaters
• some companies want to separate themselves from the highly commercialized Broadway scene, in order to foster their own art forms with their own smaller companies, bringing about new art and creative expression