North Shore theater says it faces closing

Have all your friends see the show !

That's sad. I saw Macbeth there in 1967.

Please.
You've announced that you're closing forever, but the cheapest 'regular' ticket is $50.
I'll put violin away.

Article leaves out the fact that it is their own fault for switching to HSM 2 from the Christmas Carol this year and selling about half as many tickets as it did every other year for its winter performance

They should have done A Christmas Carol this year, like every year, instead of this High School Musical crap-o-la. That would have sold out. It's not all the economy - it's some bad choices that consumers don't like. Just ask the car companies.

Did you look at the ticket prices for HSM2?? Adult prices are way too much for a suburban play house. They also got greedy getting on the HSM money train only to find out people want Holiday shows during the holidays! Look at all the shows closing on Broadway - they are done - flip them off the grill

Not true about A Christmas Carol selling more tickets. Ticket sales of HSM2 have been competitive if not better. Plus any decent ticket on Broadway in NY is over $125.

Why not participate in Bostix. Just about every other venue in Boston, as well as surrounding suburbs participates in this offer,and it certainly makes the shows more affordable. For example, The Stoneham Theatre not only participates in Bostix, but also has two pay what you can days. All one has to do is arrive at the theatre an hour or so before on the specified dates and pay what you afford. The NST's ticket prices are way too high for a suburban theatre.

If every patrician that attended last year donated $20 then the theater could continue in its mission to provide them with quality theatre. Think about it and think about how much it costs to provide this pleasure for their enjoyment. Do you really think that someone is making too much money? The problem is that it costs much more to do these things than the communitty seems willing to pay. So be it. For me I would send them $20 and ask them to hold my seat so I could enjoy going to see live talent in a great environment. Just think about it. Peace and Seasons Greetings to All.

The question I have is "what about people like myself that have purchased season tickets for 2009?"

My husband and I saw Aaron Neville at NSMT in November and fell in love with this theater. It is easy to get to, small enought for a view from every seat and despite other complaints, reasonable compared to Boston theater seats and parking is free! What a shame.

I took my wife to Damn' Yankees a couple of years ago, and we caught a few shows afterwards...We enjoyed every show. After getting the schedule mailer, I've spent my money on the Pat's and Red Sox and local theatre recently.

Honestly, look at their programming - the ticket prices are reasonable for quality suburban theater, but look at the tired old programming they produce. With minor exception the plays are pure drek - and they do not appeal to the majority of people who have (perish the thought) become a tad more sophisticated over the years and hence uninterested in tired old plays like "Hello Dolly" and "Anything Goes". Get a clue, NSMT! "Not for profi" does not necessarily mean "not for enjoyment". Update your thinking and put on a play that people will come to and enjoy!

Let's evaluate some of the comments: First, someone notes that the cheapest regular ticket is $50, so we should put away our violins about the closing. If you've ever read any material from the theatre, you will realize that the ticket price only covers about 70% of the cost of the show. So, ticket prices could be lowered, if more people made donations to cover the difference. You may not realize, that these shows are produced entirely in-house with Broadway actors. Yes, it's a suburban theatre, with Boston/NY quality. That costs money. Second, with regard to HSM2 v. Christmas Carol, it should be noted that even if Christmas Carol had sold out, the theatre would still be facing this crisis. Of course, what the writers do not realize is that over the last several years only about 60% of the seats were filled for Christmas Carol. Since HSM1 had sold out and was very popular, it was reasonable to assume that HSM2 would do as good or at least better than the 60% capacity for Christmas Carol. As was noted in other news releases, putting on HSM2 was an attempt to save the theatre by generating more revenue. Had Christmas Carol remained, the closure would probably have happened earlier. In short, the issue with the closure has nothing to do with HSM2 v. Christmas Carol. Finally, NSMT is on Bostix and has run promotions for HSM2 as well as shows during the regular season. For example, during 42nd St, it was 2 for $42 (that's $21 per ticket). Obviously, those complaining about the prices did not take advantage of any of those promotions.

We prefer to go to our local theaters that put on an excellent shows for $16.00 to $18.00. North Shore needs to adjust to the economy.

Does anyone have any idea what it costs to put on a production like this? Assuming that people are making their living as players/musicians, they deserve a living wage. If you think about each and every professional involved making a mere $20 an hour (sounds like a lot - but you do realize they don't work 40 hours a week because there's just not that much work), that almost covers your "expensive seats." Almost - and most of these folks are not getting benefits, either. They do it because they love it, but they deserve to making a living, too. This is not your local high school's production, so of course it's going to be more expensive. This isn't even taking into consideration the overhead of sets, lights, house, insurance, costuming, etc.

"Tired old plays like Hello Dolly and Anything Goes"??? These are the staples of the musical theatre genre and there will always be audiences for them. Drek like HSM2...now that's a mistake. Still, its a shame that the region is losing a classic like NSMT. Hopefully we won't see more local treasures going down.....there is no substitute for live theatre.

I love the NSMT but most of the shows over the last couple of years have not appealed to me at all. I agree the shows they put on are "tired" and they need to update to survive.

My family & I have been to this theater a few times & 3 of those times where to see A Christmas Carol. When I found out this year that they cancelled the Christmas Carol for High School Musical I was horrified they would take something like that away. Good luck to you & raising enough money to stay open....

In the early 70's I was an usher there, and it was a magical time. I met John Raitt, Bonnie Franklin, Nanette Fabray, and loads of other people. It truly exposed me to the joys of live theatre, if not for volunteering, I would never have had that experience. Todays kids need to put down their joysticks, their game controllers and see a play. People complain about the prices, but they will shell out $400 for a Wii or DS or xbox 360 without blinking an eye. Live performance is something that has carried on for thousands of years, it is a treasure we must protect.

Tough luck....I saw 2 plays there once. Nice place but they need to adjust ticket prices with the struggling economy.

We used to have season tickets for the matinee show Saturday afternoons when the children were younger. We have also been attending other shows on and off.
However, the shows presented to us the last couple of years did not have any appeal to us. So naturally we didn't go.
I hate to see NSMT close - it is a real gem. But in order to attract an audience NSMT needs update their repertoire - and get some big time performers.
We once saw Harry Belafonte performing there. What a great experience in this small theater.

The Theatre was a success in the late 90's and then all the great people who made the theatre what it was either quit or got fired. I hope they close and let another Theatre company who know how to treat their patrons and help better comes in and turns that place around.

I've loved every musical show I've seen there, it's a great venue for singers, too, Tony Bennett, Beach Boys, Randy Travis. But I'll confess I had not included them in my plans for 2008. I was waiting for the 2009 show listing. because I missed it...oh, well.

It's very expensive to put the shows on, I'm ok with the ticket prices, but maybe theater, like books, has a shrinking audience, which is sad.

I have been in the theater and performance business for many years and one thing I can say is that NSMT is way to big for it's britches. I own a theater supply
company so I know how much these things cost. Their problem is that they think they can produce show with larger budgets in a suburban area. That just does not work. I work on about 75-100 shows per years all around the country and none of the theaters in their class spend the kind of money they do on productions. Hence others have lower ticket prices and lower operating costs while still maintaining a good quality show. As for HSM2 it's just not smart to try and repeat the same genre just to make a few bucks. I own over 400 official HSM1 costumes and they are constantly rented nationwide. I will not be doing even half the business for HSM2 because it's just not as good of a show the second time around. The other problem is that theater in the round, although it has good seats just doesn't work well for large scale productions. Sets are limited in scope and performers are constantly turning their back towards you. This creates a very a very poor performance field and severly limits the impact of set changes and entrances. If it worked they would do it in NY, but it dosen't! Maybe this will help smaller local theaters increase attendance at a lower cost. Even $50.00 is too much for a theater of the style at North Shore. As for Broadway I worked there and they are having the same problem with the ecomomy. Too bad North Shore you snobed your self right out of the market!

"Of course, what the writers do not realize is that over the last several years only about 60% of the seats were filled for Christmas Carol. "

WHAT?...Unsure what "Christmas Carol" productions you were attending...But that show is sold out EVERY night...HSM2...ARE YOU EFFING SERIOUS!!!???

I think the theater should add more concerts to its schedule.

There are a lot of acts for which that venue would be great. Not much production costs and its a great venue alternative than having to trudge into Boston. Rick Springfield, from what I heard was a great show- I would have gone but didn't hear about it until the day of. There are plenty of artists that would do well there and it would help more people become aware of the aware of the theater.

I have a great idea -- Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland will get together and put on a show. Yeah, that's the ticket. It will be grand. Just grand.

I remember my elementary school would always have field trips there, I saw Romeo and juliet, A Christmas Carol, A midsummers eve, Othello, Macbeth. It would be a real shame if this pace closes down

Move all your productions to Lowell. They have all the right facilitie and don't charge as much.

When I was growing up, my family had season tickets for 8 or 9 years in a row. When I went to college it was just my parents so they stopped their subscription. I brought my fiance home for the holidays this year and we had been wondering why we heard nothing about A Christmas Carol. Now I know why--HSM2?? I'm horrified.

I suppose how I remember the theater may be nothing like what it has become in the 7-8 years since I left the area, and all my nostalgia may only be a case of "The Good Old Days When I Was Your Age," but I really hope that it will be able to bring the gift of live theater back to the community the way I remember it--whether through changing how it's run or through a new theater company taking it over, as some previous comments have suggested.

I used to work at the theater in the 80's and 90's. I was shocked they didn't put on A christmas Carol(love david coffee!) and even moreso that they might close after 51 years!

These cries from non profit arts organizations for bail outs are wearing thin. After reading this story, I logged on to guidestar dot com to see how much the top ranking employees of the theater make. Not to my surprise, there are a number of staff members earning more than $90,000 a year, plus one makes more than $100,000 a year, another makes $200,000 a year. When people decry that just because these people are "artists" they should "make a living wage," I say bullroar. This is just another example of the greed that is ruining this country. I have no sympathy and will never contribute another dime to another "non profit" organization.

So Mr stevens, what do you think being the managing director or artistic director of a theater this size is worth? If you say any less than what guidestar has listed then you know very little about this business. Non-profits are like any other business, it takes money to attract talented people to run the organization. 100k and 200k are really not an exorbitant amount of money considering the level of responsibly required by these positions.

If they hired local actors, designers, technicians and musicians like other Boston area regional theatres, they could save enormous amounts of money. Boston is bursting at the seams with talent - NSMT needs to understand that!

You're trashing that theatre without realizing something important: it's not just a theatre. It's a non-profit, EDUCATIONAL theatre. Many of my techie friends have passed through that place as interns and come out with a better grasp of what their jobs entailed than a college can provide, because a college's purpose is to give classes and theories, not to put up 8 shows a year plus concerts. And they do hire a lot of "local talent"; the entire orchestra is local, many of the chorus is for most shows, and the entire full-time staff lives local (they're not hired show-to-show, guys). The interns are not usually from boston, although some are; but they do something important: they help spread the word about North Shore, both its shows and work opportunities.

So, yeah, get upset that they're going out on HSM instead of A Christmas Carol; but don't give them flak for "not giving back to the community", which is all I'm really hearing. Between filling a need for the arts and training the NEXT generation of artists, they've done good things, and you should give them a hand that isn't aimed toward their faces.

I would like most of you negative commentors know that most of the things you are saying are either false or poorly informed. as has been said it wasnt just hsm2 v. christmas carol christmas carol has been doing badly in the past. and as far as the tickets are concerned you "perfectly good" plays you see for $16 or $20 are absolutely nothing in comparison to what is produced here. the average show at NSMT cost between $500,000 and $750,000 to produce which is exactly what it costs to put on shows of this quality. In addition to the 57 regular staff members that are being laid off there are additional jobs that aren't permanant staff positions. There are seasonal employees, the actors that are employed for each show, the local teens who get the invaluable experience not only through the education dept. but also on stage, and then there are the interns, approximately 20 who work on and run the shows many of whom are from the area. For many of the interns this is their first chance for professional theatre experience. So not only are there many people out of jobs there are also many more people who are missing out on a chance of a lifetime to work here. Its just sick how people can trash an establishment that provides work for so many artists who are just trying to make a living. And as for those of you who feel we are producing "out of date" material it would be suprising to know that showboat was one of the best selling shows of the season, a musical that some would def consider out dated especially if you know that it is considered to be the first real musical. You people just have no respect for what people in the arts provide for you. Learn to appreciate what us artists provide for you without art there is no beauty and without beauty in our lives we are nothing.

This place is a North Shore institution and it would be a shame to see it close. You can post your stories about the theater at nshoremag.com.

We send about 500 people to the Westchester Theatre in NY and it includes
lunch for around the same price! The Bus groups tell us that they are very
comparable. We have tried to send Senior groups to the NSMT over the past
few years it has been a struggle. It is around $90 per person for the Bus,
Show and we include lunch at the Yacht Club in Danvers.

If they can work a deal to get the price around $75-79 per person the seniors
will come back STRONG..

They are not answering their phone and we bought subscription tickets What should we do?

All the information everyone is submitting is what, from the newspapers? Gossip? I've been working as an actor in the theater for 9 years now, and other places. The quality with NSMT and Boston is very much alike. You all say that it costs too much with the economy now. I agree with the fact that the economy sucks. But everything ends. So will the struggle with the economy... why not donate? Why not try to save this precious gem? As for HSM2, they were one of only 2 theaters in the world getting the rights for the premire. They thought it would bring in some serious cash. I don't blame them at all.

We have been season subscribers for many years.We also enjoyed many concerts. Chris Botti was a fabulous show. Like everyone else they need to start trimming their costs. People want a regional theater and the managers and directors need to become much more innovative and think creatively outside the box. Over the years we have noticed a decline in the tried and true musicals and that's what everyone loves. Today it's all about revivals . We felt the management lost touch with their audience and didn't spend their money wisely. We want this theater to succeed . A back to basics approach is necessary and maybe a change of management.