Fortunes continued to fall like the temperature on Broadway this past week with just $12,684,919 in gross receipts, compared to the previous week of $13,882,638. It also compares poorly to the same week last season of $14,451,085. However, the figures are based on only 22 productions; six of them are plays with smaller venues and smaller audiences.
The balance of productions is made up of 14 musicals and two specials, Soul of Shaolin at the Marquis and You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush at the Cort Theatre. If the presidential inauguration wasn’t enough of a production for you, this is Will Ferrell’s comic view of the presidency, launched the same day. According to Playbill, it was written by Ferrell and will feature a performance to be seen on HBO as well. Opening Night is scheduled for Feb. 5.
“Soul of Shaolin”, with just 24 performances scheduled, was one of only two productions to enjoy an up-tick in ticket sales this past week. The other was Wicked at the Gershwin. “Wicked,” along with Billy Elliot: The Musical at the Imperial, Jersey Boys at the August Wilson, South Pacific at the Beaumont and The Lion King at the Minskoff, maintained leads at the box office, with “You’re Welcome, America” in sixth place.
Two dramas opened to previews this past week: The American Plan at the Friedman January 22, and Hedda Gabler at the American Airlines Theatre January 25. “Hedda Gabler” was first published in 1890 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and is a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn. It is directed by Ian Rickson and will run through March 29. It saw an 18 percent drop in attendance this week, followed by Shrek at the Broadway with a 17 percent drop.
Best Bargain this past week was “Soul of Shaolin,” just under $43 per Average Paid Admission. “Jersey Boys” continues the high spot at $350 per ticket.
Broadway Gross Ticket Sales
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| Production (Theatre) |
Weekly Gross | Total Atten. | Prev. | Perf. | Total Capacity | Avg. Ticket Price | Atten. % | |
| August: Osage County (Music Box) |
$316,644 | 5,084 | 0 | 8 | 979 | $62.28 | 64.9% | |
| Avenue Q (Golden) |
$247,179 | 4,417 | 0 | 8 | 796 | $55.96 | 69.4% | |
| Billy Elliot (Imperial) |
$1,096,021 | 9,958 | 0 | 8 | 1,421 | $110.06 | 87.6% | |
| Chicago (Ambassador) |
$370,152 | 5,751 | 0 | 8 | 1,080 | $64.36 | 66.6% | |
| Equus (Broadhurst) |
$394,345 | 5,925 | 0 | 8 | 1,206 | $66.56 | 61.4% | |
| Hedda Gabler (American Airlines) |
$202,292 | 4,113 | 7 | 1 | 740 | $49.18 | 69.5% | |
| In the Heights (Rodgers) |
$741,937 | 9,468 | 0 | 8 | 1,365 | $78.36 | 86.7% | |
| Jersey Boys (August Wilson) |
$990,622 | 9,125 | 0 | 8 | 1,222 | $108.56 | 93.3% | |
| Mamma Mia! (Winter Garden) |
$682,236 | 9,928 | 0 | 8 | 1,498 | $68.72 | 82.8% | |
| Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam) |
$608,046 | 10,289 | 0 | 8 | 1,797 | $59.10 | 71.6% | |
| Pal Joey (Studio 54) |
$360,236 | 6,855 | 0 | 8 | 1,002 | $52.55 | 85.5% | |
| Shrek (Broadway) |
$603,821 | 7,813 | 0 | 8 | 1,735 | $77.28 | 56.3% | |
| Soul of Shaolin (Marquis) |
$424,886 | 9,961 | 0 | 8 | 1,611 | $42.65 | 77.3% | |
| South Pacific (Beaumont) |
$871,715 | 7,808 | 0 | 8 | 1,041 | $111.64 | 93.8% | |
| Speed the Plow (Barrymore) |
$315,745 | 4,541 | 0 | 8 | 1,058 | $69.53 | 53.7% | |
| The 39 Steps (Hayes) |
$187,902 | 3,176 | 0 | 7 | 589 | $59.16 | 77.0% | |
| The American Plan (Friedman) |
$144,041 | 2,984 | 2 | 6 | 650 | $48.27 | 57.4% | |
| The Lion King (Minskoff) |
$861,468 | 11,165 | 0 | 8 | 1,654 | $77.16 | 84.4% | |
| The Little Mermaid (Lunt-Fontanne) |
$602,761 | 8,966 | 0 | 8 | 1,520 | $67.23 | 73.7% | |
| The Phantom of the Opera (Majestic) |
$588,701 | 9,940 | 0 | 8 | 1,615 | $59.23 | 76.9% | |
| Wicked (Gershwin) |
$1,236,816 | 13,601 | 0 | 8 | 1,809 | $90.94 | 94.0% | |
| You’re Welcome… (Cort) |
$837,353 | 8,499 | 8 | 0 | 1,067 | $98.52 | 99.6% | |
