Media Mention: Theater tax incentives enacted

Construction, debuts qualify for credits
Friday, July 20, 207
By Bill Barrow

BATON ROUGE -- The so-called Broadway South bill, touted by supporters as a major incentive to renovate New Orleans' storm-damaged theaters and draw tourists, was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

Senate Bill 218 by Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, provides state income tax credits to investors in theater construction and to offset the costs of producing musicals, plays, music concerts and a variety of stage shows in Louisiana, provided those shows are debut performances.

"The Broadway South legislation is going to spell the revitalization of New Orleans," said Roger Wilson, president of Broadway South, a firm under contract with the city to promote the initiative. "I believe in the next six months you will begin to see signs of rebuilding, not just the theaters but the buildings around them. The lights will soon be on year-round on Canal Street."

Credit: Times-Picayune On-line

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