Eager to revive Boston’s status as a regular testing ground for big-name Broadway musicals, legislators are proposing a tax credit for producers who bring shows to the state before heading to the Great White Way.
The credit would grant up to $3 million to a production that plays in Massachusetts before opening in New York or to a touring show that starts here, reimbursing up to 35 percent of its state labor costs. Advocates of the proposal say the credits would create hundreds of jobs and drive millions of dollars of business into Massachusetts.
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One of the biggest things to help theatre in Boston would be for Josiah Spaulding's organization to charge less for their venues - something that could be possible with lower executive salaries, perhaps? The film tax is an ineffective subsidy which is costing taxpayers millions and this would just be a similar- another way to subsidize rich entertainment execs.
This is breathtakingly stupid. Deval Patrick is trying to raise taxes by nearly $2 billion a year and these two idiots want to hand out tax credits to rich Broadway producers. Morons.
At least in NYC there are ways to get affordable tickets. Forget about it here, once a year is a luxury.
Film tax credits have not worked for the taxpayer, only the production companies and high priced talent. This will do teh same. Perhaps Spaulding and others need to focus on creating the sustained demand needed by production companies to put on shows here.
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Isn't the fact that the Citi Center and Emerson College (which runs the Colonial Theatre) are tax-exempt institutions subsidy enough? In addition, both organizations collect "Facility Fees" on top of every ticket price in order to maintain their historic buildings.
This continued myth that the MA FTC creates "temporary" jobs that are largely filled by out of state workers is based in a virtual world and not reality. These "temporary" jobs create employment of local technicians that are well payed and come with excellent benefits. These jobs are akin to similar positions in the construction industry. The vast majortiy of these salaries stay locally. Into the homes that we have bought and into the communities inwhich we live.
Ms Cummmings has not looked very hard. Otherwise she would see that this money is not going back to Hollywood. It is going into the local economy. Which is what a tax credit is designed to do. Boost the economy. The MA FTC has done that, infusing over $3 billion dollars in economic activity in the years leading up to 2010.
It is interesting that Sen Eldridge is so opposed to the FTC. The motion picture "Labor Day" was filmed in his town last summer. Dropping millions into the local economy. New England Studios is builiding a studio facility in Devens, spending an intial $35 million, also in the Senator's district.
It is a disgrace that Mr Spaulding and Mr Jaffe have choosen to take aim at the film industry. During the course of the many motion pictures and tv shows that are filmed in MA during the year. They whole state benefits, from the Berkshires(Labor Day), to Cape Ann(GrownUps2), Boston (The Heat) and CapeCod (Donny's Boy) Not just the theater district in Boston.