Comparative analysis of musical theatre audience in Russia and the United States of America

Abstract

Social-demographic characteristics, motivation and values preferences in Russian (N = 208, Moscow) and American (N = 218, New-York) musical theatre audience were studied. Data received with the questionnaire during the performance were analyzed. Women prevail among both Moscow and New-York audience (over 60%). On the average Russian audience is younger, has less experience in viewing musical performance and higher level of education (36,1% of the audience are students). There are relatively more pensioners, housewives and temporary nonworkers in American audience and 15,1% of the American audience are students. Russian spectators usually want a spectacular show (54,8%), the American ones – an interesting modern life story (47,3%). Russian audience prefers adventure or scientific fiction stories (49,9%) and love stories (29,9%); American audience prefers everyday life stories (31,1%) and love stories (21,1%). For Russian audience main criteria of performance evaluation are music and acting, for American audience main criteria of performance evaluation are singing and dancing. Artistic preferences of the two audiences in relation to music and singing are significantly different.