Broadway Show Pros And Cons

By the early 1930’s, the theater and film capital of the United States was separated across the continent. In the Great Depression, artists had to make a choice: stay in New York, where the winters were harsh, and business was sparse, or move to Hollywood; sunny year round, and business and money was everywhere. Which would you choose? It is, of course, a trick question. Movie studios quickly tired to add musicals after The Jazz Singer in 1927, however they lacked the technology to actually make one; the sound was awful and camera movement was minimal. But in 1933, with the production of 42nd Street, Warner Brothers was finally competitive with the Broadway counterparts. Soon after more studios were making their own musicals, such as Paramount, MGM, and RKO.
It is a big financial risk to invest in a Broadway production. Shows do not necessarily make a profit right away. If the productions are losing money at a rate which isn’t too bad, the producers may continue to run in hopes that they will pay back their initial costs and become profitable. Theatre owners, may lend a show money in order to keep it running. Lincoln Center Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, and Manhattan Theatre Club are the three non-profit theatre companies that currently have permanent Broadway venues. Some productions on Broadway are "limited engagement runs”. This is for a number of reasons, including prior engagements of the performers, financial issues, or temporary availability of a theatre. However, some shows with planned limited engagement runs may extend their engagements or switch to open-ended runs after critical acclaim or box office success. This was the case with August: Osage County, God of Carnage, and