Date of Award

Spring 5-15-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Art (M.F.A.)

Department

Theater

Language

English

First Advisor

Michael Page

Abstract

Broadway’s contemporary development ecosystem relies on a complex and increasingly fragile relationship between nonprofit regional theaters, Equity workshop models in New York City, and a small number of fully commercial out-of-town tryouts. In recent decades, nonprofit regional theaters have become central to the commercial development process, hosting fully staged productions of Broadway-bound work under a banner of artistic partnership. These institutions provide infrastructure, audiences, labor, and institutional credibility, absorbing reputational risk in hopes of high rewards and financial gain from donors. In return, they receive limited financial participation in downstream commercial success and operate under strict ethical and legal constraints that limit Broadway Producers’ creative participation and prevent them from soliciting their donor base as Broadway investors until after the nonprofit run concludes.

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