Tick... Tick... Boom! For some that might sound like an appropriate noise for the recent economy, but for theater- lovers, it is the name of the musical that's no longer scheduled to play at Gainesville's Hippodrome in January-- in favor of Tennessee Williams' classic, The Glass Menagerie.

The white dress used in the 1998 Hippodrome production remains in the costume shop... along with some pictures of the show from ten years ago. It's not the first time the Hippodrome has put on the same show... but it's the first where the economy plays a leading role

"We know the production and we know that we can do an incredible job of putting it on stage and with tick, tick, it was definitely a question mark."

Hausch says the Hippodrome has lost about five hundred thousand dollars in grant money from its three million dollar budget last year.

Putting on a drama like The Glass Menagerie instead of a musical like Tick, Tick Boom saves forty thousand dollars.

And with a slower summer of ticket sales, having a Tennessee Williams play that always seems to do well in the box office, doesn't hurt either.

"through the nation we're seeing theaters that are twenty to thirty years old that have been strong and survived many crises now closing their doors."

Something the Hippodrome hopes never happens

In recent months, the Hippodrome has cut five positions and internships to save money.

If the current climate continues, Hausch says the Hippodrome may trim down the number of dates they are open from three hundred and forty days a year.