The Broadway box office experienced a significant surge last week, with the addition of five new productions and the return of one old favorite. Incredibly, 30 out of the 32 shows playing saw attendance rates at 90% capacity or higher, with a staggering 20 productions completely selling out. Among these successful newcomers were The Outsiders, The Wiz, Suffs, Hell’s Kitchen, and The Great Gatsby, all of which achieved full house capacity at their respective venues. The Who’s Tommy also made impressive strides, coming close to hitting the $1 million mark.
The total earnings for the 32 shows reached an astounding $37,095,505 for the week leading up to the Easter holiday. This marked a remarkable 30% increase from the previous week and an 8% rise compared to the same period last year. The total attendance also saw a substantial boost, with 271,802 theatergoers flocking to see the various performances, translating to an 18% rise from the prior week. Impressively, over 96% of all available seats in the theaters were occupied, with the average ticket price standing at $136.48.
Several standout productions made waves during the week. Appropriate, featuring stars like Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll, commenced its commercial run at the Belasco Theatre, grossing $777,541 with a commendable attendance rate of 95%. The Who’s Tommy received glowing reviews upon opening at the Nederlander Theatre, pulling in $956,550 while achieving an impressive attendance rate of 98%. The Outsiders also made a splash, selling out its six previews at the Jacobs Theatre with a gross of $701,781. Lempicka continued to draw audiences with its low-price strategy, filling 96% of the Longacre Theatre and grossing $416,616 during its seven preview shows.
Moreover, The Wiz kicked off its previews at the Marquis Theatre with a powerful showing, amassing $941,425 and selling out all four previews. Suffs started its previews at the Music Box Theatre with standing room only for six previews and a gross of $460,623. Hell’s Kitchen began its previews at the Shubert Theatre, selling out three previews and grossing $624,961. The Heart of Rock and Roll initiated previews at the James Earl Jones Theatre, filling 91% of seats for two shows and earning $139,145. The Great Gatsby made an impressive start at the Broadway Theatre, selling out both performances and achieving a gross of $433,640.
Even amidst the influx of new productions, some long-running Broadway staples continued to shine. Wicked raked in an impressive $2,910,585, while The Lion King emerged as the highest earner with $3,178,613. Aladdin, despite a heavily comped 10th-anniversary performance, still managed to pull in $1,810,211. Chicago set a new house record at the Ambassador Theatre, grossing $1,104,240. However, not all shows experienced soaring success, as Days of Wine and Roses bid farewell, grossing $411,616 during its final week at Studio 54.
The Broadway season thus far has been a thriving one, with total gross earnings reaching $1,285,177,052 and a total attendance of 10,214,178 at 89% capacity. The vibrant success of the Broadway box office reflects the enduring appeal and magic of live theater, with audiences continuing to flock to the theater district to experience the enchantment and artistry of the stage.