A jump from 31 to 34 shows on the boards led to a boost at the collective Broadway box office last week. Collections went from $26,631,586 to $31,485,172—a rise of nearly $5 million. Average paid admission was also up: from $99.33 to $108.01.
Theatregoers liked two of the new additions to The Street right off the bat. The much-anticipated new musical Waitress, starring Tony-winner Jessie Mueller, put in its first three previews at the Brooks Atkinson, and packed them in at each one. Crowds were above capacity and the box office was 111 percent of the gross. The latter number was the third best showing on Broadway, after Hamilton and Wicked. The average ticket price as a not-too-shabby $134.29.
American Psycho was another popular new kid on the block. Over four previews at the Schoenfeld, the new musical by Duncan Sheik played to 98 percent capacity houses, while taking in 67 percent of the gross.
The also-new The Father didn’t fare as well. The drama, starring Frank Langella, filled 68 percent of its seats and took in a mere 26 percent of the possible box office at the Friedman.
For the three previews it put in last week, the new musical Shuffle Along, Or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921, and All That Followed, did well. Houses were full and the show grossed $358,845, which represented 86 percent of the gross. The box-office take was, however, down from the previous week, as producers were forced to cancel four performances due to star Audra McDonald’s illness. Average ticket price was a handsome $124.21.
Audiences continued to love the well-reviewed The Humans and She Loves Me. The former sold 93 percent of its ducats, the latter 97 percent. Not yet reviewed, but still well-attended, was the popular new revival of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, directed by Belgian phenom Ivo van Hove. Not a seat went unoccupied last week. Box office was 70 percent of the potential.
School of Rock rejoined the sold-out club last week. Other members included the aforementioned Shuffle Along, Crucible and Waitress, as well as the usual Hamilton and The Book of Mormon. Aladdin and The Lion King were nearly there, as well. All told, 22 of the 34 show were at 90 percent capacity or above, making it a robust week all along Broadway.
