Acting

Math Counts, Even in the Arts

$Handwritten theater budget notes read “Number of Seats x Ticket Price,” “Max Box Office,” and “< Rent,” beside stacks of coins and a purple pen.$

Theatre Math by author (thanks to shannamichelle.bsky.social for lending the coins)

Years ago, in Chicago, there was a successful improv comedy theatre company. They were so successful they got the city to include them in a major downtown “theatre district” build-out. They got a beautiful set of intimate spaces.

Spaces with rent that could not be covered even if they sold out every night of the week. I was stunned to learn that when a relatively short time after their space opened (two years), they had to close the spaces. Because of course they did.

The math never mathed. The more established non-profit theatre that was part of that major downtown “theatre district” build-out got the city to give them a $1 a year rent. True, deep civic support. And their spaces (they too have more than one) all have larger audiences than the intimate space the improv comedy theatre company had built.

This was in the improv/sketch comedy capital of the world of Chicago, and the gaining-prestige successful improv comedy theatre company got broken by their success because no one did math. During the design phase (news articles at the time touted the esteemed architectural firm/s that designed the buildings and theatre spaces) nobody ever did the math of: number of seats times ticket price equals maximum box office receipts and realized that number was permanently lower than rent.

The architects never did the math, the artistic directors never did the math, the managing directors never did the math and the city never did the math. Or if they did, they never brought it up. Or if they did bring it up someone, somehow, managed to “we’ll make up the shortfall with merch, donations, *hand waving*” it away until the reality set in.

Somehow, the theatre company on the upswing destined for having the option to pursue multi-city success on stage, and who knows what else, killed itself with arithmetic. And reading this, what Brian D. Frey has posted, we learn this sort of death-by-math is far from a one time event. Even in the arts, math counts, but is not everything.

David August is a multi-hyphenate in the entertainment industry and has worked as an award-winning actor, acting coach, writer, director and producer. He plays a role in the movie Dependent's Day, and after its theatrical run, it's now out on Amazon (affiliate link). He has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, on the TV show Ghost Town and many others. His product and visual effects artwork has been used and featured by multiple writers, filmmakers and theatre practitioners to express visually. Off-screen, he has worked at ad agencies, start-ups, production companies, and major studios, helping them tell stories their customers and clients adore. He has guest lectured at USC's Marshall School of Business about internet marketing and sales funnel engineering.