In Saturday’s (5/11) Culture OC (Orange County, California), Paul Hodgins writes, “The performing arts world is discovering that the journey back to the pre-COVID-19 status quo (or at least a reasonably stable new normal) has differed dramatically by discipline. Attendance and revenue figures over the last couple of years show that some performing arts have fared better than others, both locally and nationally, and even the most robust rebound has come with surprises. First, the good news. Music events of all kinds are finding audiences again, by and large. … ‘Music organizations have seen stronger sales post-pandemic relative to other performing arts organizations,’ reports Jennifer Sowinski Nemeth, an analyst for JCA Arts Marketing, in a detailed 2023 report. At Pacific Symphony, president John Forsyte says that audience attendance for the 2023-24 season has been strong … Forsyte said, ‘Each season has marked a significant step towards recovery, particularly in the area of single ticket sales…’… The Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale both report similar recoveries, although season subscription sales, as with all performing arts organizations, remain a challenge…. Now the bad news: Theater continues to struggle. So does much of the dance world.”
