The Producers: Had rare empty seats

Five other shows have been forced to close this week and six have said they are at risk.

Actors' Equity Association executive director Alan Eisenberg said action was being taken to save the shows and to save Broadway itself.

"Without question, this is going to be an extremely tough time for everyone," he said.

Rent's producer Kevin McCollum said: "The bulk of our audience is tourists and we want to be here when the tourists come back, and we are willing to lose significant amounts of money to wait for that."

The five shows at which workers will take pay cuts have been some of the most popular on Broadway.

But even the most coveted performances - including The Producers and The Lion King - have had empty seats since the attacks.

'Millions lost'

New York mayor Rudolph Guiliani has said shows will get financial aid, while other city officials have urged New Yorkers to go to see a show as their "civic duty".

The shows that have already announced their closure include A Thousand Clowns, starring Tom Selleck, The Rocky Horror Show and Stones in His Pockets.

Average box office takings on Broadway are down by 60%, according to entertainment correspondent Tom Brook.

"Millions of theatre dollars have already been lost," he says.

"Even with the best efforts of theatre-goers, it's going to take a long time for Broadway to recover."