Immersive Experiences Take Center Stage on (and Off) Broadway | XP Land
Date published: 06/17/2024
New York City’s theater scene is in the midst of a revolution. And, like any good social disruption, it’s because the conditions are ripe for change. Last month, The Broadway League released end-of-season statistics for the 2023-2024 season, which began on May 22, 2023, and ended on May 19, 2024. The report shows that Broadway attendance still hasn’t bounced back post-COVID with last season’s 12.3 million attendees mirroring the 2013-2014’s 12.2 million. Despite grossing a total of $1.54 billion, the disparity pre- to post-COVID is astonishing — attendance in 2018-2019 peaked at 14.8 million.
Not to reawaken any stale “the pandemic changed what audiences expect” discourse, but the pandemic changed what audiences expect — and immersive productions are opening across the city to disrupt the typical theater experience. Immersive theater’s cultural significance lies in its ability to draw audiences into the narrative, fostering a deeper connection to the themes and characters.
