ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Inside the Blackfriars Theatre in Rochester, it looks like business as usual as the cast of "Dangerous Liaisons" are reviewing their lines for the latest rehearsal. But getting here has taken a little longer than planned.
“Those nice full houses, that was not the case for a full year after we returned," said Mary Tiballi Hoffman, the theater's executive director. "That also coincided with relief funding kind of dropping off”.
Hoffman says since the theater reopened after the pandemic shutdown shows are only about 40% full. That’s compared to the 75% capacity shows brought in before 2020.
“What we learned in that year is that we couldn’t produce giant shows where the rights alone cost $7,000. So we had to change what we’re producing," said Hoffman.
The theater switched to smaller shows with smaller casts, like "Dangerous Liaisons," but Hoffman found that audience habits changed coming out of the pandemic. Smaller shows weren’t necessarily holding their attention.
“It's a balance of what’s artistically risky and exciting to do and what’s going to pack the audiences in to give us enough money from tickets to do challenging pieces," said Hoffman.
Ticket sales alone aren’t enough to keep a theater afloat. Especially a small one like Blackfriars.
“It’s very easy to support the big boys in town," said Hoffman. But the New York State Council on the Arts and Monroe County really understand it’s the small organizations that need it.”
This April marks the 75th anniversary of the theater. Hoffman and the actors are ready to welcome audiences back in full force.
"We’re feeling the momentum of our history as it propels us forward," said Hoffman.