Streaming Killed The Theatre Star
The year 2020 will be a year we all remember for the rest of our lives, for one reason: COVID 19. This year will go into the history books as likely one of the worst periods within modern times, as the pandemic has almost killed everything we embrace as a 21st century civilization. .With this pandemic, seemingly everything vanished before our eyes within seconds; sports, concerts, going out to eat, graduations, and even family get-togethers. All gone. You know what else was part of that loss? The theatre business. Specifically, one of the most world renowned and famous theatre businesses, Broadway.
As theatres began to close in New York City due to the ongoing health concern not to only the performers, crew and the audience but also the world, Broadway may have begun its final curtain call. Many folks who worked in the industry, now all without jobs because working from home was impossible. Thousands if not millions of dollars were lost in licensing, rental contracts, and refunds at the box office and the list goes on, but the world would come back to what we know right? This is where I believe things get interesting.
May 12th, 2020. Disney announced that the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” would be available to stream at home on Disney+, just in time for the 4th of July. On the surface, watching live theatre on TV it is something that immediately appeals to you but after some thought, it might seem like a really awesome idea. It might seem like a great alternative, everyone can now see Hamilton. However, on second thought, that’s also a problem, everyone can see Hamilton.
Now consider the switch from a stage production to a one time pre-recorded show as if you were a Disney executive. According to an LA Times article in 2014, a Broadway musical could cost anywhere between $10 million to $16 million USD to produce. (Ng Average cost of a Broadway ticket passes $100 for the first time). This is just to get the show running, not to run it every night for the next year. The budget for Hamilton the movie? A onetime fee of $12.5 million USD to run the stage show for the cameras. This is a show that now lives on Disney’s own streaming platform where they can charge users a monthly fee to watch it and they don’t have to recreate that show every single night for a live audience. I’d say for Disney, that’s a huge financial win. Now imagine after the success of Hamilton on Disney+, the mouse decides that they are going to bring another big show like “Newsies”,(which they own the rights to already), also to Disney+. They pay another $12 million, and stream it for members to watch, and boom there are no more lengthy theatre rentals, no more hoping on box office sales, and no need to ever recast. You can understand where this might be a problem for the theatre business.
With the fear of the virus continuing and possibly having a lasting impression on people about large gatherings, there comes with that, another problem: Will people even want live theatre? As a performer/dancer, audience member and a producer myself I say, “why wouldn’t they?” Live productions bring something to an audience that cinema never can. A real connection with the performers. It’s something rooted in every human. That need to feel as though they belong. Theatre does this in a way that’s almost magical. Shows, live and uncensored, allow performers to bring themselves to the stage. They bring their human emotions, their thoughts, their attitude, everything about them is out there every night and therein lies the magic. Theatre lovers know you could see the same show many times and almost every time feels different from the last. For better or worse, each show is unique. It’s this magical human interaction that business doesn’t understand or ignores. While I’m sure Disney is altruistic streaming Hamilton during this tough time, I’m also confident Disney is well aware of the business aspect and the future financial potential of streaming live theater. Buying show licenses and providing in-home entertainment to a large audience that can’t or won’t go to Broadway is an untapped source that could be a financial home run.
Now it’s possible that things will return to normal and it’s very likely that Broadway will continue through the strength of the art and the desire to create and interact in the absence of mass media. After having watched Hamilton for the 12th time from the comfort of your own home, please consider and contemplate how much better it would be to see it live and consider what you lost by not truly experiencing it live. Remember you’ve watched a performance rather than experienced a performance. Please continue to support entertainment in every medium. Entertainment is our escape from reality. Whether on a stage or in front of a camera, as humans we all need our escapes and will always seek to be entertained.
Sources:
Ng, David. Average Cost of a Broadway Ticket Passes $100 for the First Time. 10 June 2014, www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-broadway-ticket-prices-20140610-story.html.
