What are you doing this New Year's Eve? Probably NOT seeing a show.

I just took a quick spin through Telecharge searching for shows doing an evening performance on New Year's Eve.  I came up with nada (admittedly, I stopped about a quarter of the way through the alphabet - why isn't there a site that gives you the show schedule by day?).  

It was just over a decade ago when New Year's Eve was one of the most popular nights of the Broadway year.  In fact, some shows used to charge premium prices for that performance, before premium pricing was even in existence.  I remember getting off work from a sold out New Year's Eve performance of Ragtime in 1998 at 11 PM, right on 43rd Street, about 30 yards from the crazies and that big ball.  

What happened?  Did our customers really decide that seeing a show on New Year's Eve was something they didn't want to do?  Did security get too difficult?  

I think it was a combination of two things:  the turn of the Millennium and September 11th.  Both of these major events changed the way that New Year's was treated in this city, and we're all a little more careful now . . . as we should be.

But that makes me wonder, could there be an opportunity there now?  

People are always looking for special events on New Year's Eve . . . and to me, there's nothing more special, or more of an event, than a Broadway show.

Comments

[Tom Atkins]

Has it changed? I still think that the 31st is a night where many want to feel part of, or experience, some sort of event...with a party atmosphere. Should be a night where musicals do well, but I didn't spy any making too big a deal out of it with special promotions. Would be interested to hear if sales do dip on New Year's Eve in comparison to other years.

[Doug Hicton]

Well, Ken, you'd be wrong. Just saw The Addams Family tonight in Chicago. It will win best musical this year at the Tonys.

[Leah]

I don't know many people who want to go into Times Square tonight. A live music show somewhere else, downtown, uptown, YES, but into the crowd of thousands? Probably the least appealing thing ever...

[Liz]

Michael, that list isn't accurate... it's just listing all the shows that normally have Thursday night performances. Most of them are dark tonight for NYE.

[Caskey Hunsader]

While not exactly a Broadway show, but not exactly a concert, I will be seeing Grovelily's show Striking 12 tonight.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/135591-Happy-New-Year-GrooveLily-Performs-New-Years-Eve-Musical-Striking-12-in-NYC

[Overheardliveinconcert]

I think that there is more anticipation and excitement to see live music on NYE. That's what I'm doing, anyway. Bands or musicians will play special NYE shows. In most cases this is the only time during the year when this act will be in town, where Broadway shows play 8 nights a week.

[Michael]

There shouldn't be a period at the end. Use this one: http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/nythnow.php

[Michael]

You can get show schedules by day at nytheatre.com. It's terrifically useful, especially on Monday nights. Here's what is playing today: http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/nythnow.php.

[Liz]

"I came up with nada (admittedly, I stopped about a quarter of the way through the alphabet - why isn't there a site that gives you the show schedule by day?)."

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/134685-Broadways-New-Years-Performance-Schedule

According to that, while a few shows have matinees today, only South Pacific has an evening show, and that's at 7:00 p.m.