Kirov Ballet Blames L.A. Riots for Drop in Shrine Ticket Sales

The Kirov Ballet blames the Los Angeles riots for a 50% shortfall in anticipated ticket sales during the company’s May 26-31 engagement at the Shrine Auditorium.

The turnout contrasted sharply with attendance at the Kirov’s May 19-24 performances at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, which drew 89% capacity audiences at the smaller, 3,000-seat house.

Kirov publicist Simon Halls said the company had expected 85-90% capacity audiences at the Shrine.

John Cripton, executive director of SATRA Arts International, producers of the Kirov’s ongoing 13-city North American tour, blamed lower-than-expected ticket sales in L.A. on the riots’ disruption of the Kirov’s promotional campaign in Los Angeles, rather than audience fears of going to the Shrine near areas hit hard by rioting.

Speaking from Toronto, where the company is performing, Cripton said, “Nothing came to my attention” about audiences fearing that the location might be dangerous. Rather, he said, the disturbances prevented the build-up of audience and press interest in the company’s performances. He said ticket sales picked up rapidly once the company began performing.

“It we had had two more weeks, I think we would have sold out--and it’s not a small theater,” said Cripton. The Shrine has 6,300 seats. He said the company sold out the house during its 1986 performances. The Kirov is also discussing a possible “Nutcracker” season with the Shrine in December.

Cripton said the Kirov “would certainly always want to come to Los Angeles” on its North American tours, adding that the company had the option of canceling because the riots constituted a “force majeure,” but decided against it. The company encouraged attendance by promising that $5 of each ticket sale would go to aid riot-torn areas.

Orange County Performing Arts Center spokesman Greg Patterson said sales exceeded expectations: “Our subscription base filled about 50% of the house. But when the riots broke, ticket outlets were down for a number of days, which prevented people from buying tickets. But we recovered.”