The Chicago Theatre District is in a quandary. The reports of the daily shootings and car-jackings may give pause to theatre going Sun City residents. Should Sun City residents have concerns for their safety when they go to the Cadillac Palace Theatre for a show?
My Sun Day News reached out to Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News theatre critic Chris Jones for his view of Chicago theatre safety and ticket prices.
My Sun Day News: When do you think patrons will feel safe to return to Chicago for live theatre?
Jones: “It really depends on an individual’s tolerance of risk and that varies from person to person. City-dwellers understand the problems and have a sense of how to deal with them. It’s important to recognize that perception is as important as reality.”
MSDN: While Navy Pier Shakespeare and suburban theatre tickets are in the $35 to $90 range, individual tickets for big shows like Frozen and Moulin Rouge range from $135 in the second balcony to more than $700 in the Orchestra. What effect do you think those ticket prices will have on sales at the Broadway in Chicago locations?
Jones: “Producers are having a difficult time covering expenses. Union financial demands have increased along with the general cost of doing business. Bargains may appear. Hot Tix will get business for the big name shows because of those prices. People will pay those ticket prices for concerts but are hesitant on theatre productions. The impact of Covid on the tourist market is significant. International tourists in Chicago are still few and far between.”
MSDN: How much will suburban theaters benefit from the violence in Chicago? Will the threat of random shootings and car jackings keep people in the burbs?
Jones: Suburban theaters will definitely benefit. The perception of safety will certainly help them.
MSDN: Which do you think is more of a factor on the future of Chicago theatre – safety or ticket prices?
Jones: They are equal factors. Ticket prices are an economic decision. Safety is a very personal decision.
Sun City Theatre Day Trips
Day Trips to the theatre are very popular activities at Sun City. Mary Maniola and Arlene Angerame are the escorts of most theatre day trips out of Sun City. My Sun Day News asked them about plans for theatre trips into Chicago.
Maniola & Angerame: “We do not plan on going into Chicago for theatre productions in the future. We try to keep prices as reasonable as we can for our residents and Chicago prices are way too high. We always include a meal with our trips and restaurants in Chicago being added to ticket prices are just too much.”
MSDN: Do you have any favorite theaters?
Maniola & Angerame: “We would rather go to venues like Fireside in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. It is a very nice theatre and they have a wonderful system that we don’t have to deal with individual tickets. They also combine the meal with the production and the food and prices are reasonable. Fireside also has shops to wonder through along with fresh baked goods available for purchase. Other favorites are Paramount in Aurora, Drury Lane in Oak Brook and Marriott, Lincolnshire. We avoid Chicago if we can.”
