“Most wonderful!” The all-male Shakespeare’s Globe repertory productions of William Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT and RICHARD III have recouped their $3.1 million capitalization costs this week, officially entering the hit column. The productions, which opened on Broadway on November 10, 2013 to ecstatic and universal critical praise, have been playing to capacity crowds at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street), where they have broken the house record several times.
The quick recoupment of Twelfth Night and Richard III on Broadway is particularly noteworthy with the productions’ ticket access policy, where 250 seats at every performance have been sold for $25. The 250 seats per performance make up almost a quarter of the Belasco’s capacity of 1,051, and include seating in all levels of the theatre: orchestra, mezzanine, balcony, boxes and on stage. Approximately 36,000 $25 tickets will have been sold throughout the 18-week limited engagement.
“Theatre should be available to all audiences.” the producers commented. “We’re especially heartened that we have been able to sell almost a quarter of every house for $25, providing a way for all theatergoers to see and enjoy these productions, while still managing to recoup our production costs and turn a profit.”
Twelfth Night and Richard III, which are directed by Tim Carroll and designed by Jenny Tiramani, with music by Claire van Kampen, play a limited engagement through February 16, 2014. For a schedule of performances and more information, please visit www.shakespearebroadway.com.