Industry Pro Newsletter: The Impact of NEA Grant Cuts, Global Arts at a ‘Tipping Point’

Plus A.R.T./NY's "Health + Wealth" report insights on Off-Broadway's post-COVID struggles and strategies for building strength.

By: Alex Freeman May. 19, 2025

Click Here for More on Industry Pro

This week's newsletter navigates a complex landscape for the theatre industry, from the immediate shockwaves of NEA grant terminations and their profound impact on individual organizations, as detailed by Cara Joy David, to A.R.T./NY's revealing "Health + Wealth" report offering both stark realities and paths toward resilience in a challenging post-COVID environment. On Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber's potential acquisition of the former Mark Hellinger Theatre and the celebration of the Broadway League's latest award winners. Regionally, we see both ambitious growth with the announcement of David Rockwell's new magic experience in Chicago and concerning retrenchment as Berkeley's Aurora Theatre suspends its upcoming season.

SUBSCRIBE NOW - Want this newsletter delivered to your inbox every Monday? Make sure and subscribe using the form at the top or bottom of this page to join the Industry Pro mailing list.

The Phillips Club at Lincoln Center debuts a newly renovated, fully furnished hotel residence just in time for the 2025 Tony Awards return to Radio City Music Hall! Just minutes from Broadway, our apartments feature 24-hour concierge services and luxury amenities that offer the ideal accommodations for the premier theatrical event. Click here to learn more!

Employment Opportunity

Managing Director - Profile Theatre Company

Profile Theatre, one of Portland’s most acclaimed cultural institutions, seeks a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and inclusive leader to serve as its Managing Director, co-leading the organization alongside the Artistic Director. One of only two theaters in the nation that highlights the work of contemporary playwrights in deep-dive, multi-year, multi-production collaborations, Profile is at a pivotal moment in its journey — building a sustainable future that honors its distinctive artistic voice and strong commitment to community.

Industry Trends

Industry Insight by Cara Joy David: The NEA Grant Terminations and What it Means for the Future of American Theatre

Cara Joy David dives into the impact of the mass termination of NEA grants for theater organizations across the country - exploring how the dollar amounts on many of these individual grants can feel small, but their impact on individual organizations is tremendous.

Broadway/New York

Exclusive: A.R.T./NY Shares Findings from HEALTH + WEALTH Report

Focused on the Off-Broadway ecosystem, Health + Wealth provides hard evidence of theatre companies’ struggles and successes in the post-COVID years. But it’s more than an academic study of company finances. This report offers a boost of courage and specific ideas for building resilience in our industry and the wider cultural sector. Everyone should take time to read Health + Wealth in this moment when we’re not only stretched thin following years of hustling and uncertainty, but find ourselves and our communities under attack in ways that seemed unthinkable only months ago. Talia Corren and Risa Shoup, A.R.T./NY’s Co-Executive Directors, share some takeaways from the report.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Wants to Buy Former Mark Hellinger Theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber has expressed his desire to purchase the former Mark Hellinger Theatre, which is currently occupied by the Times Square Church. Webber revealed that he discussed a potential partnership with Steve Schwarzman, the Chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group, a few years ago. While Schwarzman confirmed that the deal has not been finalized, other parties, including Cameron Mackintosh and Garth Drabinsky, have also shown interest. The Nederlander Organization originally leased the building to the Times Square Church in 1989.

2025 Broadway League Award Winners Announced

The Broadway League presented its 2025 League Awards during its Spring Road Conference, honoring individuals and partners for their contributions to Touring Broadway. Jeff Chelesvig received the Distinguished Lifetime Service Award, while Jeff Loeb was honored with the Samuel J. L'Hommedieu Award. Anita Dloniak received the George MacPherson Road Warrior Award, and other recipients included Joi Brook, Bob Bucci, and Jairo Ontiveros.

Regional

Kennedy Center Workers Move to Unionize Amid Trump Administration Shake-Up

Workers at the Kennedy Center are moving to unionize in response to changes under the Trump administration. The staff, organized as the Kennedy Center United Arts Workers, cited concerns about layoffs and changes to arts programming. Employees from art programming, education, marketing, and development are seeking representation.

David Rockwell Designed $50 Million Magic Experience to Open in Chicago in 2026

Chicago's Magnificent Mile will soon feature a new $50 million magic experience, set to open in 2026. The venue, designed by David Rockwell, will be named The Hand & The Eye and will be located in the former McCormick Mansion. Entrepreneur Glen Tullman is developing this seven-stage immersive venue, which will combine magic, dining, and live entertainment. The Hand & The Eye promises a unique experience with multiple bars and a full-service dining option.

Aurora Theatre Suspends Plans For 2025/26 Season

Berkeley's Aurora Theatre has announced the suspension of its plans for the 2025/26 season. The company cited a failure to meet ticket sale goals for the current season as the reason for this decision. Aurora Theatre expressed that they are unable to guarantee a successful upcoming season at this time. The theater is currently focusing on completing its 2024/2025 season, including the current run of "Crumbs From The Table Of Joy" and the upcoming production of "The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe".

International

The Guardian: Arts Council England chair says sector at 'tipping point' amid funding fears

Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, has stated that the arts sector is at a "tipping point" due to funding concerns. Serota emphasized that continued public investment is crucial for attracting private funding to sustain cultural centers. He believes that ongoing public support is essential for the sector's stability.

Missed our last few newsletters?

May 12, 2025 - Concord Acquires Broadway Licensing Group, Portland Center Stage Faces Inflection Point

This week's newsletter navigates a dynamic and somewhat contradictory landscape within the theater world, showcasing both significant achievement and contractions. From Concord's major acquisition poised to reshape theatrical licensing to the precarious financial situation facing a vital Portland theater and the broader uncertainties tied to declining tourism in New York, we see an industry simultaneously evolving and facing considerable headwinds. Amidst these shifts, artistic excellence continues to shine, celebrated in the Pulitzer Prize for Drama awarded to Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE and the numerous accolades bestowed by the New York Drama Critics' Circle and the Chita Rivera and Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, reminding us of the enduring power and impact of live performance.

May 5, 2025 - Union Leader Condemns NEA Grant Terminations, The National Theatre Has a Global Vision

This week, we look at AFM Local 802's response to NEA grant terminations and the impressive $7 million milestone reached by the WICKED tour for Broadway Cares. Stateside, we spotlight the just-announced nominees for the Tony Awards and celebrate the winners of the Lucille Lortel Awards for Off-Broadway excellence. Our Broadway analysis delves into April's box office figures, while we also celebrate Audra McDonald becoming the most Tony-nominated performer in history. Regionally, we cover a leadership transition at Central Florida Community Arts, and internationally, we explore The National Theatre's ambitious global vision.

April 28, 2025 - Audience Trust in a Post-Election Environment, Full List of Outer Critics Circle Nominee

This week, we'll look at Colleen Dilenschneider's latest data on audience trust in a post-election environment and explore the immersive possibilities of the new StagePlay mixed-reality app for live performances. In New York, Broadway's Outer Critics Circle nominations and a special Tony Award for Harvey Fierstein, and the abrupt closure of Life and Trust. Finally, we'll take a look at key developments in regional and international theater, from Philadelphia's TKTS success to legal challenges in Texas and more programming changes at the Kennedy Center.

BroadwayWorld Resources

BroadwayWorld Stage Mag - A Fully Interactive Show Program

The digital solution to your show program needs - want to see what's possible? Check out the Stage Mag's for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and for The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)! Then start building your own at stagemag.broadwayworld.com.

Add Your Show to our Regional Events Calendar

As audiences get set to return to in-person performances, and as your company works to market your own return to the stage, make sure you've got your upcoming shows in our regional events calendars. Listings are free of charge, with boosting options available. Get your show listed now

Want this newsletter in your inbox every week? Subscribe here.

Want more information about marketing options with BroadwayWorld? Request a media kit here and a member of our sales and marketing team will reach out promptly.

This week, we look at the record-setting viewership of the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and renewed efforts in New York and abroad to redefine cultural priorities. Across Broadway, we probe shifting economic pressures on creatives through a new interview with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Meanwhile, with the announcement of a new arts and culture transition committee by Zohran Mamdani, incoming leadership may reimagine the city’s cultural agenda. On a regional level, we follow the pioneering costume exhibition by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance at Denver International Airport — a celebration of decades of creative work — and internationally, we cover a new report revealing post-pandemic shifts across UK theatres, as well as the opening night of Paddington: The Musical in London’s West End.

Industry Pro Newsletter: Broadway Wins Big at the Clio Awards, UK Looks to Ban Resellers

From award-winning Broadway marketing campaigns and fresh digital viewing options for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to updates on tax credits and Tony eligibility, the industry continues to adapt on multiple fronts. Regional and national stories examine how institutions are navigating political scrutiny and how artists across the country are sustaining their work amid financial pressures. Internationally, major regulatory changes in the U.K. signal further shifts in how audiences access live performance.

Industry Pro Newsletter: Leigh Silverman New President of SDCF, UK’s National Youth Theatre Expands Access Initiative

Poudre High School Theatre demonstrates how Stage Mag can be used by organizations of all shapes and sizes to build a fully interactive show program. In New York, the Performing Arts Library prepares a major Martha Graham exhibition, and Leigh Silverman steps into her new role as President of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. Regionally, IN Series appoints its first Executive Director and Dallas restores funding to Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Abroad, the National Youth Theatre expands its Assemble programme with a significant new grant.

Industry Pro Newsletter: Leadership Changes in Opera Large and Small

This week’s roundup highlights major leadership changes, funding shifts, and renewed investment in the performing arts. OPERA America has named Michael J. Bobbitt as its next President & CEO, while Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS announced $1.5 million in emergency food grants nationwide. In New York, The Joyce Theater Foundation received a landmark $15 million gift, and Broadway productions prepare to take the stage at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Regionally, Chicago’s cultural department faces a proposed budget reduction, Theatre Washington released a new industry impact report, and Houston Grand Opera appointed James Gaffigan as its next Music Director. Meanwhile, in the UK, opera and arts education take center stage with efforts to broaden access and strengthen creative learning.

Videos