Theatre's Struggle: Will The Next Four Years Be the Final Act?

Hannah Crawford, Guest Editorial

The beauty of curtains closing on the stage is the knowledge that they will reopen again. However, for many theatres in America this past year, the curtains being drawn will never again rise. And if that doesn’t make you feel emotional, I don’t know what would. 

Since 2020, theatres, especially community theatres, have not thrived. If I jump back in time to the COVID-19 era, I was the Creative Director for a youth performing arts center. In just one day, the whole world changed. Our theatre shut down, and everything was being done remotely—classes, lessons, and even some performances. 

I don’t know about you, but I hated that time. Running a virtual theatre class with 7-year-olds was just not fun, let’s put it that way. And then, as quickly as everything shut down, everything reopened. But it would never be the same. This center I worked for tried to stay open for another year or so, but like many, it shut down because it could not sustain itself. 

You’d think that after the economy bounced back, so would the theatres. But for some reason, way beyond my economic experience, that did not happen. And here we are, five years later, still reaping the consequences of that virus.

Why 2025 Will Be Even Worse

I hate getting political, but there’s no way around that. The climate has changed and will continue this way for the next four years. We don’t have the support that we once had. With Trump now back in office, I truly believe that many more performing arts centers will experience push-back from right-wing conservatives who want to silence our voices and means of expression in 2025. 

Post-COVID, I think many theatergoers got used to not attending shows. This shifted priorities for many who are scared of contracting something sitting so close to others. If you remove passionate theatergoers who helped to sponsor and keep a theatre running, then it will be difficult for those theatres to try and remain open. 

The Ripple Effect of Theatre Closures

Theatre closings are like dominoes collapsing. There are never just one or two that close in our area. This past year, several theatres have closed in my area. Another just closed at the end of December, and it will never reopen. 

Now, why are all these theatres closing? Is it all the same reason? No, it’s not. Well, at least not from my point of view. Most theatres are closing due to the inability to sustain themselves financially. 

However, others are closing for other reasons. One near me closed down because it couldn’t recoup the damage the board had done to the artists. Another had to close its doors to a brand new theatre it had built because a fire damaged the building before it could open. 

But we must realize that the ripple effect of theatres closing is much more than a domino effect on other theatres. It directly impacts our community. Theatres often serve as cultural hubs for their communities, hosting performances, educational programs, and other events that foster creativity and a sense of belonging. 

Their absence leaves a void in the cultural landscape. And it diminishes opportunities for people to engage with the arts and for emerging performing talent to flourish.

This can lead to a loss of identity for communities that once prided themselves on their vibrant artistic performances. 

Theatres Are Not Isolated Entities 

When we hear of a theatre closing its doors, we often feel sad as we envision the building closing. But we need to refocus our thought process on theatre closings. Theatres are not isolated entities; they are anchors for surrounding businesses.

All around the theatres, there are restaurants, bars, and cafes near those performance spots. These businesses rely heavily on pre-show diners and post-show patrons. Retail stores and parking facilities also benefit from the foot traffic that theatres generate. 

So, when a theatre shuts down, these businesses often feel the blow, leading to reduced revenue, layoffs, or even closures.

Not to mention that when theatres close, all the artists who relied on that paycheck (no matter how small) now have to replace that income elsewhere. And we all know how difficult it is to find work these days. 

A theatre professional I know, god bless her heart, had to reach out on social media asking others to donate cat food to keep her cat alive because her restaurant serving job wasn’t cutting it for bills. That’s just one of about a dozen stories I could tell you of theatre professionals struggling amidst all these theatres closing.

The Future of Theatre in Republican Lead States

Listen, no matter what your political affiliation is, there is a stark difference between Republican and Democratic support of the arts. I wish there weren’t…because, after all, “love thy neighbor” and all that. But hey, let me not preach before I get canceled by social media. 

Florida is a prime example of the damage that a Republican-led government can do to the arts. Last year, Governor DeSantis cut $32 million in funding for the arts. When this happened, my social media was blowing up, with theatres all over Florida hosting fundraisers and asking for donations. 

Many theatres rely on state grants to cover operating costs, develop new productions, and offer community programming. Don’t think paying for your $10 or $20 ticket is all it takes to keep a theatre fully functioning. Even with sold-out shows, it still doesn’t cover all the operating costs that theatres need to keep their doors open.

Disagreeing with the arts is not what it once was. Conservatives are becoming more bold daily about their disdain for things they disagree with. If you disagree, here’s a novel idea…don’t attend. 

I worked Spring Awakening at a local theatre about a year and a half ago. At the very end of the performance, Wendla gets a botched abortion. This elderly couple got right up out of their seats, and as they were walking out, they talked about how disgusting we were as artists to be putting on a show where abortion happened. They walked right by those lined up to go on stage next and had no qualms to let them know what they thought. Side note: how about you look up what a show is before you attend?

I genuinely believe we will see much more of this for the next four years.

The closure of theatres across the United States represents more than just the loss of performance spaces—it’s the unraveling of cultural, economic, and educational lifelines that we as community members rely heavily on.

As state funding drops and the political climate changes, so will the theatre's ability to survive. I wish there were a way to end this blog positively. However, I think it’s important to be blunt about the road ahead. 

Sometimes, we can only help by shining a light on the struggle that theatres near us have. While yes theatres do need money to survive, they also need people who support them and will be vocal about it.

Will you do your part in the theatre closest to you?