In analyzing Shakespeare as a product, I've spent some time researching the costs and revenue of theatrical productions, from both current and past productions. Since that research is ongoing and incomplete, I will address it later in a more substantial post. However, I wanted to share an interesting idea on a similar note, that relates theater to the industrialist entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie. In a
New York Times article from 1904, writer John Corbin addresses the issue of whether or not the theater would be worthy of an endowment from a wealthy businessman such as Carnegie. He then gives Carnegie's take: "The only way to endow a theatre is to buy a ticket at the box office." Corbin also quotes Daniel Frohman, who said, "An endowed theatre is only a fad. It is for a class, and not the masses. A play that does not appeal to the masses would not be a success."
