But ominous signs are afoot. Some are proclaiming the end of the mega-musicals, the engine that has been driving business on Broadway and on the road. On Broadway, not much these days, where comedies have dried up. To TV, mostly. But let's also blame the Zeitgeist.
Young people bring enthusiasm, older people bring experience.
A Stephen Sondheim show, written four decades ago, finally gets its premiere. The effort to open nearly killed it with debt. A funding review of 50 theatres, mainly in the provinces but including some noted London venues outside the West End, has found an alarming decline in the popularity of conventional plays. The review suggests that 'live theatre', such as laser, acrobatic and video spectacles, have wider appeal and should be embraced by theatres as a condition of receiving public grants. As the era of the mega-musicals on Broadway wanes, theatres around the country that count on the shows to fill their seasons face difficult times.