Broadway Ticket Sales Report
Week ending September 30, 2007
By Carol-Ann Rudy
In addition to looking at this past week’s box office receipts, let’s talk about Broadway road shows.
Lovers of legitimate theatre may not be able to cut out time to actually make the trip to experience a production on Broadway, but road shows offer a great alternative, if not an identical, experience. Broadway shows are most likely to be offered in theatres in state capitals and large cities, usually with a website posting their yearlong schedules.
Scour the websites of those theatres. Read the fine print, too: is this production a national tour whose cast are members of the Actors’ Equity Association? If so, their pay is likely regulated. Other shows may be less expensive and typically are non-union.
While you’re at it, sign up for any of the hundreds of e-mail or online newsletters available on the Internet about road shows. Typing in the name of a show you’d like to see, followed by “road show,” should bring up a slew of them. Wondering if a production is worth seeing, in spite of all the media hoopla? Check it out with a reliable critic on one of the many websites.
You might think that because it’s a road show the demand for a particular show will be less. On the contrary, it may be sold out within a few hours of announcement. You want to be sure to have your tickets in hand before setting out for the theatre, so check frequently . . .
You like to hob-nob with performers? Take advantage of post show parties; the performers may enjoy meeting enthusiastic fans as much as you may enjoy them.
Consider season’s tickets to one venue, when you see that you would likely enjoy most or all of the shows. Economically, it is almost always a good move. Large cities may have more than one venue and may compete for your dollar, providing you with a really good opportunity to catch those shows.
In this past week, the total of ticket sales was down, $14,329,577 compared to the same week last season, $15,081,815, but the season to date is markedly higher than the previous season: $315,848,881 compared to the last season figure of $292,679,880.
The highest-grossing productions this week were:
- Wicked, $1,401,662 at 98% capacity
- Jersey Boys, $1,206,558 at 100%
- The Lion King, $1,022,471 at 89%
- Mamma Mia!, $887,135 at 92%
- Mary Poppins, $884,744 at 82%.
The lowest average paid ticket was for The Ritz at $46.32. However, the play, still in previews, had a nice attendance figure of 75%. The highest average paid ticket remains Jersey Boys at $122.48. The lowest attendance reported was for Mauritius at 57.5% – but it’s early yet.
Broadway Gross Reports, September 30, 2007
All data provided by The League of American Theatres and Producers
|
Production |
Weekly Gross |
Total Atten. |
Prev. |
Perf. |
Total Capacity |
Avg. Ticket Price |
Atten. % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Chorus Line |
$430,607 |
6,652 |
0 |
8 |
1,069 |
$64.73 |
77.8% |
|
Avenue Q |
$312,184 |
4,615 |
0 |
8 |
796 |
$67.65 |
72.5% |
|
Chicago |
$434,645 |
6,227 |
0 |
8 |
1,080 |
$69.80 |
72.1% |
|
Curtains |
$756,698 |
9,741 |
0 |
8 |
1,422 |
$77.68 |
85.6% |
|
Grease |
$719,404 |
7,326 |
0 |
8 |
1,072 |
$98.20 |
85.4% |
|
Hairspray |
$632,043 |
9,352 |
0 |
8 |
1,428 |
$67.58 |
81.9% |
|
Jersey Boys |
$1,206,558 |
9,851 |
0 |
8 |
1,222 |
$122.48 |
100.8% |
|
Legally Blonde |
$642,717 |
8,650 |
0 |
8 |
1,691 |
$74.30 |
63.9% |
|
Les Miserables |
$375,834 |
5,979 |
0 |
8 |
1,122 |
$62.86 |
66.6% |
|
Mamma Mia! |
$887,135 |
11,037 |
0 |
8 |
1,498 |
$80.38 |
92.1% |
|
Mary Poppins |
$884,744 |
11,853 |
0 |
8 |
1,791 |
$74.64 |
82.7% |
|
Mauritius |
$186,793 |
2,992 |
8 |
0 |
650 |
$62.43 |
57.5% |
|
Pygmalion |
$287,129 |
5,348 |
8 |
0 |
740 |
$53.69 |
90.3% |
|
Rent |
$335,114 |
6,165 |
0 |
8 |
1,181 |
$54.36 |
65.3% |
|
Spamalot |
$601,070 |
8,186 |
0 |
8 |
1,441 |
$73.43 |
71.0% |
|
Spring Awakening |
$667,131 |
7,859 |
0 |
8 |
1,090 |
$84.89 |
90.1% |
|
The 25th…Bee |
$180,768 |
3,563 |
0 |
8 |
684 |
$50.73 |
65.1% |
|
The Color Purple |
$733,073 |
10,021 |
0 |
8 |
1,718 |
$73.15 |
72.9% |
|
The Drowsy Chaperone |
$507,312 |
8,257 |
0 |
8 |
1,611 |
$61.44 |
64.1% |
|
The Lion King |
$1,022,471 |
11,820 |
0 |
8 |
1,654 |
$86.50 |
89.3% |
|
The Phantom of the Opera |
$570,540 |
8,660 |
0 |
8 |
1,607 |
$65.88 |
67.4% |
|
The Ritz |
$281,112 |
6,069 |
8 |
0 |
1,006 |
$46.32 |
75.4% |
|
Wicked |
$1,401,662 |
14,243 |
0 |
8 |
1,809 |
$98.41 |
98.4% |
|
Xanadu |
$272,833 |
3,566 |
0 |
8 |
596 |
$76.51 |
74.8% |
