New shows are attracting audiences and boosting box offices on Broadway. Five new productions (only one that's officially opened) joined The $1 Million Club last week: The Great Gatsby, Hell's Kitchen, The Wiz, The Who's Tommy, and Cabaret.
Cabaret, a starry revival transferring to Broadway from an Olivier-winning West End run, netted an impressive $1.5 million in its debut week on the boards, and in just six previews. The production has been getting attention for its pricey tickets—the average paid over its first six previews was $238.29. But with a dramatically reconfigured theatre (the traditional proscenium August Wilson has become an in-the-round Kit Kat Club) and a pre-show that likely has many departments being paid overtime, producers will want to see that continue to keep things going.
While not quite as over-the-top, we also saw some additional early signs of success last week, particularly Lincoln Center's Steve Carell-led Uncle Vanya revival and Stereophonic. The latter brought in $203,743.65 over just four previews, which could easily make it one of Broadway's best-performing plays in a full week (its first preview, every seat was sold for $40). Vanya, on the other hand, took in $662,221 over five previews, which could well indicate we have another $1 Million Club entrant to look forward to once the production is able to play a full week.
The success of some of these newer titles sent Broadway's box office soaring generally last week, with a 6.34% increase taking receipts over $39 million across the 37 currently running shows, beating the same week last year (despite this season having one fewer show than last season). Average ticket price actually fell a little bit, though with that metric holding steady at $129, that's nothing to be too concerned about.
More than 305,211 people went to see a Broadway show last week, with just eight of the 37 running titles playing to 90%-full (or higher) houses. And an astounding 10 shows completely sold out their week.
Just four weeks (to the day!) left until 2024 Tony nominations drop—and the race is very clearly on.
Take a look at the full report here.
The $1 Million Club (shows that earned $1 million or more at the box office):
- The Lion King ($2.63 million)
- Wicked ($2.4 million)
- Hamilton ($2.05 million)
- Aladdin
- MJ The Musical
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Cabaret
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Sweeney Todd
- Back to the Future
- The Wiz
- Merrily We Roll Along
- & Juliet
- The Great Gatsby
- Spamalot
- Chicago
- An Enemy of the People
- Water for Elephants
- The Book of Mormon
- SIX: The Musical
- Hell's Kitchen
- The Who's Tommy
(22 of 37 currently running productions)
The 90s Club (shows that played to 90% or higher of their seats filled over the entire week):
- An Enemy of the People (102.58%)
- Hamilton (101.1%)
- The Outsiders (100.2%)
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical (100.06%)
- Uncle Vanya (100.02%)
- Cabaret (100%)
- The Great Gatsby (100%)
- Merrily We Roll Along (100%)
- Stereophonic (100%)
- Wicked (100%)
- Hadestown
- SIX: The Musical
- Mother Play
- Hell's Kitchen
- The Book of Mormon
- & Juliet
- Chicago
- MJ The Musical
- The Wiz
- Suffs
- Back to the Future
- Aladdin
- The Lion King
- Doubt
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Sweeney Todd
- The Notebook
- Appropriate
- Mary Jane
(29 of 37 currently running productions)
