Behind The Scenes Of Broadway Blockbusters

WAMU 88.5

Published August 23, 2017 at 9:20 AM MDT

A woman displays her Hamilton autograph book outside of the the popular Broadway show Hamilton on June 21, 2016 in New York City. The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit has drawn huge crowds to the Richard Rogers theater in the hopes of getting increasingly scarce and expensive tickets. Carrying bed rolls, pillows and take-out food containers, many fans of the musical wait days in the heat and rain for a chance to get a cancellation ticket which are offered to the public once they're declined by members of the cast and crew.

Jeffrey Seller has produced some of the most popular theatrical blockbusters. Four of his productions have won Tony Awards for Best Musical: “Hamilton,” “Rent,” Avenue Q,” and “In the Heights.” And his smash hits “Hamilton” and “Rent” both won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

But success does have a downside. Tickets for “Hamilton” are notorious for their outrageously high price tag. On secondary markets like StubHub, they go for between $500 and $2000.

Seller weighs in on what makes a hit, the future of American musicals and the role of live theater in the digital age.

GUESTS

Jeffrey Seller, Theatrical producer; four of his productions have won Tony Awards for Best Musical: “Hamilton,” “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” and “In the Heights”; “Hamilton” and “Rent” both won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

For more, visit http://the1a.org.