The Playgoer: The Incredible Shrinking Broadway Musical

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Incredible Shrinking Broadway Musical

Producer Ken Davenport does the math:

  • In the 1950s, 69% of all new musicals opening on Broadway had cast sizes greater than 30.
  • In the 1960s, 67% had cast sizes greater than 30.
  • In the 1970s, 31% (!)
  • In the 1980s, 24%
  • In the 1990s, 38%
  • In the 2000s, 27%
Nothing we didn't already sense, of course. But the numbers--and the steep fall off circa 1970--are striking. Especially when you consider that those higher percentages in olden days are out of already larger number of shows being produced.

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