As predicted last week, the new Josh Groban- and Annaleigh Ashford–led revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd has emerged as Broadway's newest hot ticket. After playing its first full week of performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (previews began February 26), the Thomas Kail-directed production joined the top five highest-grossing shows on the Main Stem, bringing in $1.5 million and playing to 100% sold-out houses. The achievement is a rarity for a show still in previews, made further notable by a reduced preview schedule that saw it play just six performances last week rather than the usual eight.
And, it would appear that we're in a good moment for serious musicals. Though family shows like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Wicked still bring in the most individual theatregoers (thanks to being housed in theatres with the largest capacities on Broadway), another winner among new productions is proving to be the revival of Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's Parade. The musical, telling the true story of a Jewish man who was falsely accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in 1913, nearly joined The Million Dollar Club last week, bringing in $914,510 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
With Lea Michele and Tovah Feldshuh back on the boards following a week's vacation, Funny Girl was back in the top five, with its take of $1.8 million the second-highest on Broadway last week. The show did not play to sell-out crowds, filling only 90% of the seats at the August Wilson. But audience members are apparently willing to pay big bucks to see the Glee star live, with an average ticket price of $204 still sending the production to the top of the list.
The Phantom of the Opera continued its dominance as Broadway's top grosser last week, bringing in $2.5 million. Along with Funny Girl and Sweeney Todd, the top five was rounded out in the third and fourth spots by The Lion King and Hamilton, respectively.
Take a look at the full report here.
The $1 Million Club (Shows that earned $1 million or more at the box office):
- The Phantom of the Opera ($2.54 million)
- Funny Girl
- The Lion King
- Hamilton
- Sweeney Todd
- MJ The Musical
- Wicked
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- & Juliet
(10 of 24 currently running productions)
The 90s Club (Shows that played to 90% or higher of their seats filled over the entire week):
- The Phantom of the Opera (100.81%)
- Hamilton (100.39%)
- Sweeney Todd (100%)
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- The Lion King
- Parade
- The Book of Mormon
- Aladdin
- MJ The Musical
- A Doll's House
- Chicago
- & Juliet
- Hadestown
- SIX: The Musical
- Funny Girl
(15 of 24 currently running productions)
