Bright Lights, Big Dreams - A Case Study of Factors Relating to the Success of Broadway Shows

Abstract

The Cox proportional hazards model technique is demonstrated in an analysis of the longevity of Broadwayshows. The necessity of using the Cox proportional hazards model to identify the factors associated with showlongevity becomes clear by comparison to an ordinary linear regression analysis. Emphases are given to themodel interpretation, including residual analysis, tests for the proportional hazards assumption, and fitting thestratified proportional hazards model. The intended audience consists of all applied statisticians who may considerusing the Cox proportional hazards model. A basic to intermediate level of statistical analysis backgroundis needed to understand the case.