“The Fabulous Invalid” is the title of a 1938 George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart comedy about a theater’s struggles to survive. The phrase, which outlasted the show, refers to the resilience of theater in the face of insane odds. Since the pandemic ended, dozens of theaters across the country have closed; many others have laid off staff or cut down their seasons. Data collected by Theater Communications Group shows that 60% of the country’s nonprofit theaters are predicting deficits this year, compared with 10% in 2021. The reasons for the crisis are numerous: competition for audiences from streaming and phones; corporate philanthropy’s pivot away from the arts; crime driving audiences away from downtown districts; didactic plays that alienate audiences.

---

Persons: George S, Kaufman, Moss Hart, ” William J, Baumol, William G, Bowen Organizations: Theater Communications Group, Performing Arts Locations: America