The month of March so far has blown in stronger numbers for Broadway: box office ticket sales of the 26 productions currently in place hit $14,270,629 for the week ending March 8. That’s still not as strong as last year at the same time, an impressive $16,184,121, but it’s an improvement over the previous week of just $13,630,247. Overall, this season’s numbers still exceed the same period last year: $713,661,293 compared to $682,818,957.
Leading the pack in the million-dollar club is the venerable Wicked at the Gershwin, followed by West Side Story at the Palace in its second week of previews. Jersey Boys at the August Wilson falls in third place at less than a million for the week.
In its second full week of previews, God of Carnage at the Jacobs posted the most impressive increase in box office ticket sales, a whopping $277,862 over the previous week. At the other end of the scale, The Lion King at the Minskoff posted the biggest drop in revenue of $70,079 compared to the previous reporting period.
An exciting array of new productions has hit the boards on Broadway, all in previews. In their first full week is 33 Variations at the Eugene O’Neill and Impressionism at the Schoenfeld. Filling out the roster is Blithe Spirit at the Shubert, “West Side Story,” “God of Carnage,” Exit the King at the Barrymore and Hair at the Hirschfeld.
More goodies to come: in the wings is a new David Mamet production called “Race.” It is slated for its World Premiere this fall. No word yet on cast and venue nor its plot. With works like “November,” “Glengarry Glenross,” “American Buffalo” and most recently “Speed-the-Plow,” Mamet has proven himself to be a sustaining figure on the Broadway scene.
Best ticket bargain this week? Hedda Gabler at the American Airlines Theatre claims that distinction at $46 for the lowest Average Paid Admission. Two shows now claim the Top Ticket price of $350, “Jersey Boys” and newcomer “33 Variations.”
Lastly, Will Ferrell will finish his well-received production of “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush” playing at the Cort on March 15, that is if tickets to this sold-out production can be had.
Broadway Gross Ticket Sales Week ending March 8, 2009
All data provided by The Broadway League
Broadway Gross Ticket Sales
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| Production (Theatre) |
Weekly Gross | Total Atten. | Prev. | Perf. | Total Capacity | Avg. Ticket Price | Atten. % |
| 33 Variations (O’Neill) |
$269,780 | 4,961 | 8 | 0 | 1,063 | $54.38 | 58.3% |
| August: Osage County (Music Box) |
$212,048 | 3,454 | 0 | 8 | 979 | $61.39 | 44.1% |
| Avenue Q (Golden) |
$227,059 | 4,150 | 0 | 8 | 796 | $54.71 | 65.2% |
| Billy Elliot (Imperial) |
$952,298 | 9,387 | 0 | 8 | 1,421 | $101.45 | 82.6% |
| Blithe Spirit (Shubert) |
$438,689 | 6,842 | 8 | 0 | 1,479 | $64.12 | 57.8% |
| Chicago (Ambassador) |
$397,019 | 6,158 | 0 | 8 | 1,080 | $64.47 | 71.3% |
| Exit the King (Barrymore) |
$126,011 | 1,874 | 2 | 0 | 1,058 | $67.24 | 88.6% |
| God of Carnage (Jacobs) |
$396,470 | 6,256 | 8 | 0 | 1,078 | $63.37 | 72.5% |
| Guys and Dolls (Nederlander) |
$555,451 | 8,248 | 0 | 8 | 1,217 | $67.34 | 84.7% |
| Hair (Hirschfeld) |
$404,387 | 6,084 | 5 | 0 | 1,412 | $66.47 | 86.2% |
| Hedda Gabler (American Airlines) |
$229,871 | 4,906 | 0 | 9 | 740 | $46.86 | 73.7% |
| Impressionism (Schoenfeld) |
$265,211 | 4,515 | 7 | 0 | 1,071 | $58.74 | 60.2% |
| In the Heights (Rodgers) |
$708,061 | 9,404 | 0 | 8 | 1,365 | $75.29 | 86.1% |
| Jersey Boys (August Wilson) |
$940,795 | 8,968 | 0 | 8 | 1,222 | $104.91 | 91.7% |
| Mamma Mia! (Winter Garden) |
$716,774 | 10,254 | 0 | 8 | 1,498 | $69.90 | 85.6% |
| Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam) |
$526,005 | 9,061 | 0 | 8 | 1,797 | $58.05 | 63.0% |
| Shrek (Broadway) |
$592,385 | 8,822 | 0 | 8 | 1,735 | $67.15 | 63.6% |
| South Pacific (Beaumont) |
$823,607 | 7,441 | 0 | 8 | 1,041 | $110.68 | 89.3% |
| The 39 Steps (Hayes) |
$152,935 | 2,436 | 0 | 8 | 589 | $62.78 | 51.7% |
| The American Plan (Friedman) |
$184,167 | 3,308 | 0 | 8 | 650 | $55.67 | 63.6% |
| The Lion King (Minskoff) |
$813,466 | 10,240 | 0 | 8 | 1,654 | $79.44 | 77.4% |
| The Little Mermaid (Lunt-Fontanne) |
$592,451 | 9,328 | 0 | 8 | 1,520 | $63.51 | 76.7% |
| The Phantom of the Opera (Majestic) |
$578,992 | 9,767 | 0 | 8 | 1,615 | $59.28 | 75.6% |
| West Side Story (Palace) |
$1,066,334 | 12,209 | 8 | 0 | 1,677 | $87.34 | 91.0% |
| Wicked (Gershwin) |
$1,231,466 | 13,933 | 0 | 8 | 1,809 | $88.38 | 96.3% |
| You’re Welcome… (Cort) |
$868,899 | 8,526 | 0 | 8 | 1,067 | $101.91 | 99.9% |