Thesis
There's no business like show business: intersections between the non-profit and commercial sectors of theater and their place in Philadelphia
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Dec 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010800
Abstract
As non-profit theaters came about in Philadelphia, the city's status as a theater destination became overshadowed by New York, Washington DC, and Boston. Non-profit theaters in these cities have intersected with commercial enterprises, originating works at their theaters that go on to commercial ventures such as Broadway. This has not been seen in Philadelphia. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between non-profit and commercial theater and its existence in Philadelphia to find sustainability within Philadelphia's theater ecosystem. A literature review and interviews of 19 individuals across case studies of 13 organizations within and outside of Philadelphia were conducted to accomplish this. The study found that commercial enhancement is the most common means of this intersection. While this can be a revenue driver for theaters, it can train audiences to think that a show going to Broadway is the only mark of success. Philadelphia struggles to become a modern, recognized theater destination because of a lack of funding opportunities compared to other cities. Philadelphia struggles to adapt a commercial enhancement model due to a lack of innovation in the theaters with the greatest resources. The findings suggest that when enacted correctly, the intersection of non-profit and commercial theater can lead to increased earned revenue for non-profits, with greater investments in education and community engagement initiatives. The findings also suggest that Philadelphia has a theatrical identity crisis that needs to be addressed by the next generation of leadership.
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Details
- Title
- There's no business like show business
- Creators
- Jayson Chase Borenstein
- Contributors
- Pamela Yau (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 132 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Arts Administration; Arts and Entertainment Enterprise; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 991022019019304721