Variety is reporting that Broadway is suffering from a bout of the summer doldrums. Sales slumped $1.5 million last week, with the total sagging to $18,547,188.
More than half of the 28 shows on the boards saw declines, with “Grey Gardens” slipping by more than $70,000 despite Monday’s announcement of a July 29 closing. That decline is partly attributable to one perf dropped from the schedule. . .
Terrence McNally’s “Deuce” also took a significant hit; the play dropped $48,000, or 21%, to gross $185,259.
Paid attendance for “Xanadu” also dipped during its final week of previews, but heavily comped critics’ performances probably accounted for the decline in sales on the tuner update of the 1980 camp classic, which is generating strong word of mouth.
“The Year of Magical Thinking” closed for a one-week hiatus, depriving the week-six slate of about $200,000, based on last week’s figures. The Vanessa Redgrave starrer resumes performances today.