Anastasia Tsoukas

The Met told NPR that these cutbacks and attempts to generate new revenue come as the opera company awaits an infusion of cash in a pending, still tentative deal with Saudi Arabia worth some $200 million.

In the meantime, the Met has cut 22 administrative jobs, instituted temporary salary reductions, and postponed the run of one opera previously announced for next season.

The Met is also looking at possibly selling two iconic murals by artist Marc Chagall that frame its entryway.

The Chagall murals are valued at some $55 million.

If they're sold, the Met expects them to remain in place at the theater, displayed on permanent loan.

Anastasia Tsoukas, NPR News, New York.

Generations of fans and aspiring dancers have grown up with visions of the Sugar Plum Fairy dancing in their heads.

Many major dance companies now depend on the Nutcracker and even more so after the pandemic.

The organization Dance USA tells NPR that between 2022 and 2024,

Large American dance companies reported that Nutcracker revenue has been zooming up from $57 million to $84 million.

Attendance is also up by 18%.

The trick is getting Nutcracker fans to return for other performances and not to become so reliant on Nutcracker that it endangers their other work throughout the year.

It's enough to keep any dance company on its toes.

Anastasia Tsilikas, NPR News, New York.