Struggling American theatres are taking quite a beating in the comments section of a New York Times editorial today.

Isaac Butler has written an essay arguing that America’s nonprofit theatre industry needs a government bailout. Theatres are closing or shrinking everywhere – especially after covid – and Butler wants taxpayers to put them on life support. It’s the usual “too important to let die” sort of cant that fills most grant applications, but the readers aren’t having it.

Two things struck me about the response. There weren’t all that many comments compared to most Times articles – just over 500 by mid afternoon, by which time the headline had disappeared from the home page. And there wasn’t much support for Butler’s thesis. Most commenters didn’t think the government should be asked to artificially sustain an industry that can’t find enough customers to keep its doors open.

The good news is that these responses contain plenty of useful feedback for out of touch theatre professionals who need a wakeup call.

Definitely worth a read – if you can still find it.