Dear Broadway Influencers, I’m Sorry I Didn’t Save Your Favorite Show. I couldn’t afford a Ticket. — OnStage Blog

Dear Esteemed Broadway Influencers,

I write today with a heavy heart and a light wallet. I’ve seen posts and Tiktoks from some of you angry that not more true fans bought tickets to Broadway shows that have since announced their closings.

Please accept my sincerest apologies for not single-handedly keeping your favorite Broadway show open. I now realize that by failing to buy a full-price ticket to that show, I personally caused its premature closure.

You see, I forgot that Broadway is a capitalistic enterprise and therefore not beholden to silly things like accessibility or audience diversity. No, no. It’s survival of the richest, and I failed the test.

I should have known better. If I really loved theatre, I would’ve dropped $400 on a premium seat in the rear mezzanine, or better yet, sold a kidney to get orchestra center. I would’ve called off work, flown to New York, booked a hotel, and sat obediently in Row L.

You’re right. That’s what a true fan would’ve done.

And while I hate to make excuses, I do feel compelled to explain what was going on in my selfish little world while Broadway was burning.

Rent. Groceries. Healthcare.

Also, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed(because you get to see some of these shows for free), but the average Broadway ticket now costs between $120 and $133. And those are average numbers. Some of the hottest shows are pushing three to four to ten times that.

Sure, there are rush tickets, but have you ever tried planning a weekend trip to New York hoping to snag one? It’s a full-time job, a roll of the dice, and a test of faith. And when you live hundreds of miles away, that gamble isn’t charming. It’s expensive and exhausting.

Yes, I know TDF exists. Yes, I know about lotteries. But let’s not pretend those programs are the norm or that they guarantee access for people outside of the tri-state area. I would need a spreadsheet, a subway pass, and the reflexes of a ninja to make those systems work reliably.

And here’s the thing no one wants to say out loud.

There’s a difference between being a theatre fan and being someone who can afford to see Broadway shows. They are not the same.

Some of us grew up on cast albums, bootlegs, Tony clips, and dreams. Not box seats. We love theatre deeply. We just can’t drop hundreds dollars every time someone revives Gypsy.

Meanwhile, dynamic pricing ensures that any show with buzz becomes instantly inaccessible. And when a star is announced, the ticketing bots come faster than a Sondheim patter song.

So I’m sorry. Truly. I failed you.

Next time I’ll just be richer. Or closer. Or luckier.

In the meantime, I’ll be over here supporting my local theatre, streaming cast albums, and wondering what theatre could look like if it welcomed more than just the top five percent of earners.

Yours in shame,

A Disappointed Fan Who Did Their Best