Union Wins Four New Broadway contracts

Local 802 recently won collective bargaining agreements with four Off Broadway productions.

“Avenue Q” moved from the Golden Theater to New World Stages. The show’s employer, Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, signed an agreement with the union in October. The cuts list was carried over until January.

“Elf,” a developmental musical, was covered for a six-week workshop, which occurred from Oct. 12 to Nov. 12. The show’s employer was Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

Productions of “As You Like It” and “The Tempest” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last October were covered by a Local 8902 agreement. The employer was Bridge Project Joint Venture.

Broadway Trends Studied

A recent study by the Broadway League found that international visitors accounted for 21 percent of the 12.15 million Broadway admissions between May 26, 2008 and May 24, 2009, the highest portion in recorded history. Overall, tourists accounted for approximately 63 percent of all tickets sold to Broadway shows in New York City.

The report also found that audience members who chose to see straight plays tended to be more frequent theatregoers than those who attended musicals. The typical audience member who saw straight plays attended eight shows in the past year, compared with four for those who attended musicals.

Audience members who saw 15 or more shows comprised 5 percent of the audience, but represented 31 percent of all tickets sold.

The average age of the Broadway theatregoer was 42.2 years old, slightly older than last season, while those aged from 25 to 34 accounted for 16 percent of all tickets sold, higher than it has been since the 1999-2000 season.

Broadway theatregoers were a very well educated and affluent group. In addition to an annual reported income of $195,700, 73 percent of theatregoers over the age of 25 had completed college and 36 percent had earned a graduate degree.