What is the Future of Performing Arts?

In recent years, especially this past year, the future of the performing arts industry looks unfavorable.  Although it seems aspects of the industry are doing well like Broadway, with hit shows such as Wicked, Book of Mormon, and The Lion King, theater attendance overall is down significantly.  

According to a survey done by the National Endowment for the Arts 15.2% of adults nationwide attended at least one musical play, which is down by 9% from the survey taken 4 years earlier.  There is an even larger decline for non-musical plays, 8.3% of adults nationwide attended at least one event, which dropped by 12% from the previous survey.  For musicals in the industry this is the first real significant drop sense 1985.  

There are no official explanations as to why there is such a significant decline in performing arts attendance.  There are two unofficial theories of what caused the decline.  One theory is the recession, which left people less disposable income to spend on pricey tickets to various performances.  The second being the younger generations are not interested in performing arts.  

According to Craig Lambert in the article "The Future of Theater" (http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/01/the-future-of-theater), "Entertainment delivered cheaply to a laptop or handheld device beats theater on price and convenience."  Also in the article he explores the belief that because children are less exposed to music, theater, and the arts when they are young that they are less likely to ever have the taste or desire to experience it.  Children in school these days are less exposed to the arts with the lack of funding given to schools to teach it.  

All this information paints a pretty dreary picture.  There is one beacon of hope though.  In the UK, Ticketmaster recently came out with a report that theatre was more popular than sporting events and concerts.  Even more interesting is the fact that the most likely to attend the theatre were 16-19 year olds.  This is opposite of what research in American theater shows.  Although it is a different country it shows that all is not lost and that they are doing something right and drawing in the next generation of theatergoers.  

(http://blog.ticketmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pdf/LiveAnalytics_State_of_play_TheatreUK_Low_Res.pdf)     

The experience of seeing a show live cannot be substituted or replaced.  The magic of live shows is that you are part of it and anything can happen.  It is these things that I think will keep performing arts, especially theater going for a long time.  

Thanks for Reading!

-PerformingArtsPatron