Broadway has another solid week with increased ticket sales

With the Tony Awards less than a month away, Broadway continues its steady state with $22,465,355 at the box office this past week, up from $21,744,393 the previous week ending May 9. Comparing last season to this season, the total box office is approaching a billion: $997,319,614, up 1.5 percent over the same point last season of $982,515,407.

Six productions of the 33 currently on the Great White Way ranked in the million-dollar category this week: Wicked at the Gershwin, The Lion King at the Minskoff, The Addams Family at the Lunt-Fontanne, Promises, Promises at the Broadway, Billy Elliot at the Imperial and Jersey Boys at the August Wilson, all musicals. Fences at the Cort ranked first among the eight plays on Broadway at the box office. It was also the only production to post a dollar drop between one week and the next, just $15,852. The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic posted the largest dollar gain, $80,968 over the previous week.

Looking at attendance, Million Dollar Quartet at the Nederlander and American Idiot at the St. James reported 8.3 percent and 8.2 percent increases, respectively, while Hair at the Hirschfeld posted the largest drop in attendance at 6.9 percent over the previous reporting period.

There were no openings or closings this past week but A Little Night Music playing at the Walter Kerr will close its doors on June 20 after 20 previews and 217 regular performances.

According to Playbill, a musical celebrating Ray Charles called “Unchain My Heart” will open Nov. 7 with preview performances beginning Oct.9. According to producer Stuart Benjamin the show would feature a book by Suzan-Lori Parks and direction by Sheldon Epps. Parks won a Pulitzer Prize for her play “Topdog/Underdog.” Theatergoers can also look forward to the debut of a musical production of “Scottsboro Boys” this October at the Lyceum.

Broadway Gross Ticket Sales Week ending May 16, 2010

All data provided by The Broadway League