N.Y. producers plan new tax attack
Broadway League eyes major tax break
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The Broadway League, the trade association of Rialto producers and presenters, has initiated a concerted effort to secure, initially from New York City but also from the state, the same sort of tax breaks offered to screen producers, who get tax credits of 30% on in-state, below-the-line costs, with an additional 5% in Gotham.
"We've just made it our No. 1 priority," says League exec director Charlotte St. Martin. "The increasing cost to produce original work in New York City has really pushed this to the front burner."
The major obstacle for proponents to tackle: the argument that unlike film and TV projects -- which can essentially shoot anywhere they want -- Broadway is rooted firmly in midtown Manhattan, so legit producers and their money aren't going anywhere.
That's not quite true, according to the league. Because Gotham costs continue to skyrocket, developmental work is beginning to migrate to other locales.
The league is now attempting to educate municipal and state agencies about Broadway's economic contribution to the city, which came to $5.1 billion (including ancillary spending) during the 2006-07 season, according to a recent league study. (Figures for the just-wrapped 2007-08 season are not yet available.)
A successful Broadway production sticks around a lot longer than a movie shoot, whose typical three-month duration is dwarfed by, for instance, the 20-years-and-counting run of "The Phantom of the Opera."
Besides, the thinking goes, one of the things that makes Gotham such a hot spot for film and TV productions is the New York-based stage talent drawn here by opportunities on the Main Stem.
Plus, unlike the increasing array of electronic entertainment options that keep New Yorkers holed up in their apartments, theatergoing lures people out to support local biz.
"It gets people out of their caves and into the heart of the city, where they're parking and shopping and eating," St. Martin says.
But no one expects instant results. "These things don't happen overnight," St. Martin says.
It's tough to decide what's the biggest geek-chic surprise about "The Toxic Avenger," a new tuner based on the 1985 B-movie about the slimy superhero with the toxic-waste origin.
First of all, the cheeky New Jersey-set tale will preem this fall at the Garden State's own George Street Playhouse -- with a score by David Bryan, one of the founding members of Jersey band Bon Jovi.
Possibly even better? The production set up a booth at the New York Comic Con in April.
That might be topped, however, by the fact that this musical version of "Toxic" -- with book by Joe DiPietro ("I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," the upcoming "Nice Work if You Can Get It") and featuring songs titles like "Hot Toxic Love" -- is the third tuner version of the movie to hit the boards.
That's right, the third.
First there was "Toxic Avenger: The Musical," staged in Omaha, Neb., in 2004. Then came "Toxic Avenger: The Musikill" in Portland, Ore., in 2006.
"It's such a cult classic," DiPietro says of the story's appeal to stage creatives.
This incarnation of Lloyd Kaufman's Troma Entertainment pic was suggested by Jean Cheever, who co-produced Broadway tuner "All Shook Up," for which DiPietro wrote the book.
"Toxic," which aims to broaden the Avenger's appeal from his core stoner demo, bows in New Brunswick Sept. 30, with a cast of five under the direction of John Rando ("Urinetown"). A New York move seems a likely bet if the show works.
"Like the Tromaville movies, the idea is to make it low-budget and fun," DiPietro says. "It's a quintessential Off Broadway show."
The same weekend the attention of most theater folks was turned toward the Tonys, a handful of legiters were picking up another kind of award.
The Creative Arts and Entertainment Daytime Emmys were handed out June 13, with the kudo for music direction and composition going to Nick Jr.'s "The Wonder Pets!" for material by contributors including Robert Lopez ("Avenue Q") and Michael John LaChiusa ("The Wild Party").
Meanwhile, one of the winners for outstanding song was "Chemistry," from the "One Life to Live" episode "Prom Night: The Musical," with a tune by Jonathan Larson Award winner Lance Horne ("Songs From an Unmade Bed") and lyrics co-written by Horne and Paul S. Glass.
