Broadway's booming

The lights are shining bright on Broadway, with a record year for New York's theatreland. According to the BBC, ticket sales were US$825million in 2005, up from $749million the previous year. The big hits included Monty Python's Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays. I suspect Australian theatre has had a somewhat less successful 2005. Still, there's the promise of a few hits on the horizon - including the musical Dusty, which opens in Melbourne next week and - all being well - will tour the country. Brisbane audiences can catch the tail end of the tour of Dirty Dancing from January 14.