Will the economy bring Broadway to its knees?

October 12, 2008

If a Martian dropped into New York and saw the latest Broadway grosses, the little guy wouldn't have a clue about the Wall Street meltdown. In the week that ended last Sunday, "Jersey Boys," "Wicked," "South Pacific" and "Mamma Mia!" were still packing in capacity, top-ticket audiences. "Equus" is up $60,000, the new "Seagull" rose $80,000 and, significantly, Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," which opens Thursday, is nearly selling out, up there with the big musicals.

Recent columns

• Trouble waiting in the wings on Broadway?

  October 12, 2008

  If a Martian dropped into New York and saw the latest Broadway grosses, the little guy wouldn't have a clue about the Wall Street meltdown. In the week that ended last Sunday, "Jersey Boys," "Wicked," "South Pacific" and " Mamma Mia!" were still packing in capacity, top-ticket audiences. "Equus" is up $60,000, the new "Seagull" rose $80,000 and, significantly, Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," which opens Thursday, is nearly selling out, up there with the big musicals.

• 'Spring Awakening,' 'Equus,' '13' spotlight teens

  October 5, 2008

  Coming-of-age stories have long been a favorite in books and Hollywood. On Broadway these days, however, the casting of real teens spills the drama of pubescence beyond the illusory edges of the stage.

• 'Spring Awakening,' 'Equus,' '13' spotlight teens

  October 5, 2008

  Coming-of-age stories have long been a favorite in books and Hollywood. On Broadway these days, however, the casting of real teens spills the drama of pubescence beyond the illusory edges of the stage.

• Linda Winer: The sad decline of Off-Broadway

  September 28, 2008

  Where's Off-Broadway? This is not a trick question, like the one about how to get to Carnegie Hall. You see, most theatergoers, after a few visits, know where to find what we know as Broadway - the nearly 40 playhouses that line and, more often, adjoin Broadway, the boulevard, from 41st Street to 54th.

• Linda Winer: The sad decline of Off-Broadway

  September 28, 2008

  Where's Off-Broadway? This is not a trick question, like the one about how to get to Carnegie Hall. You see, most theatergoers, after a few visits, know where to find what we know as Broadway - the nearly 40 playhouses that line and, more often, adjoin Broadway, the boulevard, from 41st Street to 54th.

• A horse is more than a horse in 'Equus'

  August 24, 2008

  'Shoulder!"

• A horse is more than a horse in 'Equus'

  August 24, 2008

  'Shoulder!"

• With extra aisle seat charge, the pay's the thing

  August 17, 2008

  What's next? No pillow and blanket?

• With extra aisle seat charge, the pay's the thing

  August 17, 2008

  What's next? No pillow and blanket?

• Paying tribute to the heyday of black playwrights

  August 10, 2008

  'Hair" is not the only modern theater legend being revisited this summer.

• Off-Broadway has more than a foothold on Broadway

  August 3, 2008

  And now there are five.

• Diane Paulus directs Central Park's 'Hair' revival

  July 27, 2008

  A TV jingle caught my ear the other day. What was that melody? Why did it sound so deeply familiar? And what was it selling?

• Diane Paulus directs Central Park's 'Hair' revival

  July 27, 2008

  A TV jingle caught my ear the other day. What was that melody? Why did it sound so deeply familiar? And what was it selling?

• Diane Paulus directs Central Park's 'Hair' revival

  July 27, 2008

  A TV jingle caught my ear the other day. What was that melody? Why did it sound so deeply familiar? And what was it selling?

• 'Mamma Mia!' A movie musical as good as the show

  July 20, 2008

  Even before "Mamma Mia! The Movie" opened Friday, Broadway was feeling it at the box office.

• 'Mamma Mia!' A movie musical as good as the show

  July 20, 2008

  Even before "Mamma Mia! The Movie" opened Friday, Broadway was feeling it at the box office.

• Tony Awards reflect a changing tide on Broadway

  May 18, 2008

  This is the time of year we dump on the committee that chooses the Tony Award nominations. In the twilight of the Broadway season, the theater world heaves with lists of egregious omissions and commercial sellouts aimed at the handful of (mostly little-known) theater experts (23 this year) who shape the memories for history and for the tourists.

• If the Met OKs encores, is Broadway far behind?

  May 4, 2008

  It was a night for the history books.

• Rosie O'Donnell will tap in 'No, No, Nanette'

  April 27, 2008

  Can Rosie tap?

• Spring awakening

  April 6, 2008

  However the wind blows, theatergoers know it's spring when Broadway gets crazy with openings.

• 'Mamma Mia' a Guilty Pleasure

  October 18, 2001

  In our imaginary encyclopedia of pop-culture shamelessness, the “guilty pleasure” section has a boisterous, unapologetic new entry.

• 'Mamma Mia' a Guilty Pleasure

  October 18, 2001

  In our imaginary encyclopedia of pop-culture shamelessness, the “guilty pleasure” section has a boisterous, unapologetic new entry.