Transitioning to Broadway: An Examination of Nonprofit Musical Production on Broadway

Over the last thirty years, four of New York's largest nonprofit theatres--The Public Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, and the Manhattan Theatre Club increased budgets and subscriptions. This tremendous growth included a move to Broadway, a trend that began with the unprecedented success of A Chorus Line and continues today with the permanent presence of nonprofit theatre on Broadway. This thesis examines nonprofit musicals, in terms of the motives behind the transfer, financial impact, production awards received, and response from the Broadway community.