Dear Financial Employees of Broadway,
As a frequent playgoer and avid Broadway fan, I am writing on behalf of the larger community who find themselves unable to attend a show because of the exorbitant prices of tickets. The productions on your stages prove to be icons for all of New York City. They are world renowned and widely considered a must see or a must do within someone’s lifetime. It is truly a shame that the ticket prices have skyrocketed, because the amount of people who could benefit from the lessons and messages that soar off your stages is tremendous.
As for the endless benefits that seeing a Broadway production has, there are countless examples. Some include “On Your Feet”, which was the musical production of lives of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, and this show had tremendous value to the Latino community, the immigrant community, and it had an incredibly powerful political message as well. One of the most pivotal moments in the play was when Emilio and Gloria attempt to become cross over artists and end up being denied by their record label for being “too Latin.” At this moment, Emilio defies the record label, and explains his story of coming to America from Cuba. He explains that he is a citizen, and that he deserves every opportunity that he is willing to work toward; he says “look at my face, whether you know it or not, this is what an American looks like” (Dinelaris). This show brought the fact that immigrants are the one making America what it is today, and people who come from somewhere else but have made this country their home, are Americans and they have ambition, drive, and dedication. This show resonated with every person in the audience, and taught crucial lessons. Along with this, there are important messages in countless other productions. “Hamilton”, which tells the story of Alexander Hamilton in colonial America, tells the audience that through hard work, any goal can be achieved, no matter the obstacles. “Dear Evan Hansen” inspires adolescents to be who they truly are, and to never be afraid to stand up for what they believe in, and these are just some of the countless examples of incredibly profound stories across the Broadway stages today.
However, the price of tickets for these productions have skyrocketed to levels that are nearly completely unattainable for many people. Higher levels of attendance, combined with high levels of tourist and the ever-increasing cost of production of these magnificent events is contributing to the highest ticket prices that the city has seen in years. In fact, “theatergoers in New York forked over an average of $103.88 per ticket” (Ng), which is nearly six percent higher than the previous peak price. With prices this steep, how is it possible for people to see the shows that would inspire them, resonate with them, and foster a love for music and theater.
Since the theatre has so many values for almost every person with a desire to see a show, various options should be implemented so that Broadway can become more accessible. There number of rush tickets with student discount should be increased, since the prices of these tickets are slightly cheaper and people who live and work in Manhattan have a relatively easier time getting to the theatre during rush hours. An adult ticket should also come with the opportunity to bring one child under the age of twelve for free or highly reduced prices, so that younger people can attend shows that have pertinent messages and begin to develop a love and appreciation for music and theatre. Lastly, I believe that prices for ticket packages should be heavily reduced. Some of my most cherished high school memories were trips with the school band to see Broadway shows, however, this past school year they were unable to find a show with reasonable group ticket prices. Adolescents and students should have the most access to the lessons, messages and overall impact that a Broadway production has and one of the best ways to truly glean all of these is to attend a show with peers and educators. Group ticket prices should be lowered to facilitate the ability for more schools to attend the productions.
To conclude, the theatre that is up to the caliber of Broadway has endless value to every person who sees a show, but the sharp increase in average ticket price is making it nearly impossible for the general public to seethe shows that would give so much back to them. I believe that certain measures, such as lower group ticket rates, the addition of a free of reduced price child ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket, and an increase in morning rush tickets would increase the availability of the value of theatre to many more people. This would create endless benefits for every community inside and outside of New York City.
Sources:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-broadway-ticket-prices-20140610-story.html
https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/broadway-tickets-expensive/
