The recent Broadway box office numbers have shown a steady performance as the industry transitions into the post-Memorial Day summer season. Despite some productions experiencing a slight decrease in attendance from the holiday highs, the overall gross for the 35 productions for the week ending June 2 was $33,662,845, down about 5% from the previous week. However, this number represented an 8% increase over the same time last year. Total paid attendance for the week was 280,253, down 2% from the previous week but up 7% year over year, with approximately 86% of all seats being filled.
One of the newcomers to Broadway during this period was “Ben Platt: Live At The Palace,” a concert residency at the legendary Palace Theatre. Despite no preview performances and no critics in attendance for reviews, Ben Platt managed to gross $650,306 for his first six performances, filling about 74% of the theatre’s capacity. The average ticket price for the show was a reasonable $89.10.
Several other shows on Broadway experienced box office slips due to the absence of high-profile cast members. For example, “Merrily We Roll Along,” which saw Daniel Radcliffe missing five out of eight performances, still managed to gross $1,148,603. Similarly, “Uncle Vanya” saw a more noticeable hit in attendance and grosses when Steve Carell was out sick for five shows, resulting in a drop to 74% capacity and $734,380 in earnings. Another production, “Mother Play,” had to cancel a Wednesday matinee due to an illness within the company but still achieved an attendance rate of 91% for the remaining shows, with a total gross of $528,216.
Among the top earners of the week were perennial favorites like “The Lion King,” bringing in $2,084,039, and other renowned productions such as “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” each grossing over $1 million. Shows like “An Enemy of the People,” “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” and “The Outsiders” also performed exceptionally well, with some reporting sell-out performances. On the flip side, productions like “Patriots” and “The Heart of Rock and Roll” struggled to fill seats, hovering around 58% of capacity.
As Broadway enters its second week of the new season, the total gross for the entire season so far is $68,958,251, with a total attendance of 567,499. These figures, provided by The Broadway League, paint a comprehensive picture of the industry’s current performance. For more detailed box office listings, interested parties can visit the League’s official website for up-to-date information.
While some shows may have experienced dips in attendance due to various factors, the overall Broadway box office remains resilient and continues to attract audiences with a diverse range of productions. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how each show adapts and thrives in the competitive landscape of live theater in New York City.
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