"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is the latest musical to hit the stage at Arizona State University's Gammage theater. It’s part of a long list of Broadway plays that is boosting attendance.
According to the Broadway League, 2014 was the highest grossing year with the largest attendance in Broadway history. This year Gammage is seeing the same pattern and is pulling in $1 million a week according to Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, the executive director at Gammage.
She points to the quality of work, the economy and film adaptations for the success of musical theatre.
"It’s the notion that people do go to the cinema a lot and if you see a great version, as we did with the musical 'Chicago,'" Jennings-Roggensack said. “'Chicago' sales went through the roof and also, what it means is younger people with come.”
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" has been around for 30 years but despite the age of the musical, Ace Young, who plays Joseph, said those diverse young theatergoers contribute to the shows audience.
“It literally hits kids ages four all the way up to your great-grandparents and everything in between and they all chime up in volume during different parts of the show," Young said.
Jennings-Roggensack is hoping for an encore of this season’s attendance with hits like "Wicked" and "Phantom of the Opera" on tap for next year.