Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has released its latest research report, “Theatre Facts 2023.” The report examines the economic state of nonprofit theaters in the United States, specifically drawn from Oct. 31, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023.
The study establishes estimates for 2,258 active nonprofit theater organizations across the country. The data is gleaned from both information filed with the Internal Revenue Service as well as information provided (by participating venues) to TCG’s Cultural Data Profile (CDP). Among the organizations that completed the CDP were Roundabout Theatre Company and Lincoln Center Theater, two of the four nonprofits that operate on Broadway. Also participating were Off-Broadway’s Public Theater and Atlantic Theater Company. The health of the nonprofit theater industry is relevant to the Main Stem, as many Broadway productions originate at a nonprofit, such as the aforementioned Public or Atlantic.
The report’s findings noted that income earned through ticket sales, encompassing both subscription and single-ticket purchases, has risen steadily since the pandemic (up 31% since just the year prior) but is still 29% lower than pre-pandemic figures. Beyond ticket sales, total earned income (including ticket sales, royalties, rentals and more) is up 94% from 2022, but still down 25% from 2019.
In terms of attendance, admissions are up 70.4% from 2022 but remain 22% below the 2019 benchmark. The number of subscriptions, however, is only down 1% from 2019.
“Theatre Facts” also delves into statistics comparing Black Indigenous and Theaters of Color (BITOC) and non-BITOC venues. BITOC organizations are defined here as theaters that have been founded by, for or near BIPOC communities. The study reveals that average ticket revenue for non-BITOC organizations was 8% higher than that of BITOC nonprofits. However, BITOC venues reported, on average, 22% higher admissions than non-BITOC organizations.
Finally, the report makes note of the economic impact of nonprofit theaters. In 2023, nonprofit theaters contributed an estimated $3.6 million to the United States economy through expenditures of goods and services. The $3.6 million figure accounts only for direct spending; it does not include the economic impact seen through indirect spending (such as a staff member at the theater making purchases, like groceries and gas, in their local communities), indicating an actual larger impact not captured in the scope of “Theatre Facts.”
The full report, attributed to Rebecca Roscoe, Jen Benoit-Bryan, Daniel Fonner and Wenhua Di of DataArts with Rachael Hip-Flores and Corinna Schulenburg of TCG, can be found here.
