Broadway experienced a dip in total grosses for the week ending on August 25, 2024. The total earnings amounted to $25,343,599, reflecting a decrease of approximately 10% from the previous week. This decline can be attributed in part to the summer edition of Kids’ Night on Broadway, where 19 out of 24 shows offered free performances to children accompanied by a paying adult. The impact of this initiative was evident in the performance of popular shows like The Lion King and Aladdin, which saw decreases of $203,453 and $176,876, respectively.
One of the contributing factors to the overall drop in Broadway revenues was the absence of The Wiz from the lineup. This absence resulted in a decrease in the total number of shows available for the week. Despite this, some productions managed to maintain strong numbers. Shows like Oh, Mary!, Stereophonic, and The Outsiders continued to draw audiences, with each achieving sold-out performances for the week.
Notable mentions in the Broadway box office report include the performances of Once Upon A Mattress, Wicked, and Hadestown, which came close to selling out with 99% of their seats filled. Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club also stood out, earning an impressive $1,459,506 for the week with 98% seat occupancy at the August Wilson Theatre.
On the other end of the spectrum, shows like Water For Elephants, The Notebook, and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child struggled to fill seats, with attendance rates ranging from 75% to 76%. Despite these challenges, Broadway as a whole has shown positive growth in the season to date. In the 14th week of the 2024-25 season, total grosses amounted to $453,418,819, marking a 6% increase from the previous year at this time. Total attendance also saw a rise of approximately 4%.
As Broadway enters the fall season, audiences can anticipate changes in the lineup with the departure of actors like Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin from their respective shows. Both performers are set to leave on September 14, marking the end of their current runs. Redmayne, in particular, has been a prominent figure in the role of the Emcee since the show’s revival on the West End in 2021 and subsequent transfer to Broadway in April.
While Broadway may have experienced a slowdown during the summer months, the overall outlook remains positive. With upcoming performances and new additions to the lineup, the stage is set for a vibrant and dynamic season ahead.
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