As the summer season began after Memorial Day, Broadway box office figures remained relatively stable. Despite some slight decreases from the holiday highs, the 35 productions managed to gross $33,662,845 for the week ending June 2. This amount was down by about 5% from the previous week, but still showed an increase of 8% compared to the same time last year.
The only new addition to Broadway during this period was “Ben Platt: Live At The Palace.” The concert residency at the newly renovated venue showed promising results. With no previews and critics not invited, Platt managed to gross $650,306 in his first six performances, filling about 74% of the Palace’s capacity. The average ticket price was a reasonable $89.10, attracting a decent audience.
Some shows experienced box office declines due to the absence of key cast members. In “Merrily We Roll Along,” Daniel Radcliffe’s pre-planned time off resulted in a drop of $464,004 in grosses, reaching a total of $1,148,603. Similarly, Steve Carell’s absence in “Uncle Vanya” led to a noticeable dip in attendance, with grosses decreasing by $268,341 to $734,380. These instances highlight the impact of star power on Broadway productions.
Other challenges faced by Broadway shows included unexpected illnesses within the company. “Mother Play” had to cancel a Wednesday matinee performance due to illness, reaching $528,216 in total grosses with attendance at 91% for the remaining seven shows. Such unforeseen circumstances can significantly affect the overall performance and audience turnout of a production.
Top Earners and Sell-Out Shows
The highest earner of the week was the ever-popular “The Lion King,” generating $2,084,039. Several other productions also grossed $1 million or more, including “Hamilton,” “Wicked,” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Shows that sold out during this period were “An Enemy of the People,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” and “The Outsiders,” indicating their strong appeal to audiences.
While some shows thrived, others struggled to fill seats, with productions like “Patriots” and “The Heart of Rock and Roll” only reaching 58% of capacity. These disparities in attendance levels highlight the varying audience preferences and interests in the Broadway landscape.
Overall Season Performance
In the second week of the new season, Broadway has grossed $68,958,251, with total attendance at 567,499. These figures demonstrate the ongoing popularity and resilience of Broadway as a cultural and economic powerhouse. For detailed box office listings, interested individuals can visit The Broadway League’s website for more information.
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