Joy Today, Nerves Tomorrow in London

So far, London's West End has escaped the financial bloodletting that Broadway is in the midst of experiencing. But pay close attention to those words "so far."

The Theatre Society of London reported that 2008 was the second-best year every for West End ticket sales, trailing only last year, and that theaters have a health advance, especially for musicals.

Still, as the Telegraph reported, officials fear the U.S. financial crunch simply hasn't made itself felt there yet, and, they say, some softening, especially in plays, is already appearing. So, they're looking cautiously ahead to '09.

Photo by Getty Images