What a difference a change of venue can make.
The Atlanta Opera —- after toiling for 28 years in theaters that were substandard for its art —- finally moved into a proper-sized home this past season, and the numbers tell the story.
Here are the results of the opera's 2007-08 season, its first at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. (Things look promising for next season as well. So far, subscription renewals are "slightly ahead of where they were this time last year," says Dennis Hanthorn, the opera's general director.)
ENERGY BOOST
.........................2006-07......2007-08 ....Percent
.......................Civic Center..Cobb Energy..increase
Subscription revenue ....$658,497....$1,444,503 ..119 percent
Single-ticket revenue....$414,580....$699,823 ....69 percent
No. of subscriptions ....3,191 ......6,267........96 percent
No. of single tickets....6,479 ......11,690 ......80 percent
Total attendance ........22,874......38,194 ......67 percent
Average attendance ......5,719 ......9,549........67 percent
Total capacity available 45,910......41,888
Capacity filled..........50 percent..91 percent
2006-07 season: Three productions with three performances each.
2007-08 season: Four productions with four performances each.
Theater capacities for opera
Civic Center: 4,591
Cobb Energy Centre: 2,618
Source: Atlanta Opera
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