Theatre Subs Down

Theatre subscriptions are down but single-ticket purchases are up, according to a new report issued by the Theatre Communications Group.

Specifically, the report noted subscription income for theatres declined more than 15 percent between 2006 and 2010. At the same time, theatres also raised prices for subscription tickets by about 7 percent.

Single ticket sales outpaced subscriptions, growing by more than 16 percent during the same period for theatres, the report said.

TCG Executive Director Teresa Eyring chalks up the news to people being busy and having less time to commit to four or five events during a season.

“It may also be because new generations of theatregoers are less inclined to have that particular kind of relationship with theatres,” she added.

Total paid attendance for theatres declined nearly 6 percent in 2010 and the number of performances at such venues has also been reduced over the past four years.

Just more than 60 percent of theatres surveyed reported ending the year in the black, an improvement from the 41 and 43 percent of 2009 and 2008.

Data for the report was gathered through surveys of more than 1,800 nonprofit theatres around the country.