Audiences Down for Non-Musical Theatre; Those Left Are Older, too

The National Endowment for the Arts' Arts Participation 2008 study was just published. As it has in each of the last two editions, it shows the percentage of US citizens reporting attendance at a non-musical play has decreased:

• 1992 13.5 %
• 2002 12.3 %
• 2008 9.4%

The median age of non-musical playgoers has increased as well:

• 1992 42 years old
• 2002 44 years old
• 2008 47 years old

The median age for audiences for musicals is also rising, but at a slower pace. In the 2008 survey, it was 45 years old. Percentages of Americans attending musicals has stayed virtually constant over time:

• 1992 17.4%
• 2002 17.1%
• 2008 16.7%

A pdf of the entire report can be downloaded for free from the NEA website: http://www.arts.gov/research/research_brochures.php.