Box office returns continued to improve with ticket sales reporting $16,930,140, up nearly $2 million from last week’s total of $15,106,298. The same week last season reported $17,755,739. Comparing numbers for this season to the last, ticket sales are 2.3 percent ahead.

Five of the 22 current productions reported box office receipts in excess of $1 million. Those shows were “The Lion King” at the Minskoff, $1,534,779, “Wicked” at the Gershwin, $1,526,036, “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark” at the Foxwoods, $1,476,828 followed by “American Idiot” at the St. James, $1,144,030 and “The Merchant of Venice” at the Broadhurst, $1,125,273 in its last week of performances.

Attendance reported for the week overall was 84.6 percent, with “The Merchant of Venice” at 102.5 percent followed by “Wicked” at 97.4 percent. “The Importance of Being Earnest” followed closely at 97.2 percent. Reporting the lowest figure was “Colin Quinn: Long Story Short” at 61.6 percent.

“The Merchant of Venice” again ranked highest in achieving its Gross Gross Potential at 105.5 percent. “Colin Quinn: Long Story Short” posted a low of 40.8 percent.

Repeating the previous reporting period’s success, five shows this week posted tickets with face values at or exceeding $300, including “Jersey Boys” at $350 while the best bargain-priced average ticket was $60.40 for “Colin Quinn: Long Story Short”.

Good People“, starring actress Frances McDormand, will open on March 3 at the Friedman. The play, “That Championship Season” is in its second week of previews at the Jacobs and will open March 6. The opening night for “Spider-Man” remains March 15 at the Foxwoods.

“The Merchant of Venice” closed February 20.

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles on Broadway” resumed performances this week at the Brooks Atkinson. “Rock of Ages” remains on hiatus and will reopen March 24 at the Helen Hayes.

All data provided by The Broadway League

Broadway Gross Ticket Sales
Week Ending February 20, 2011

Production
(Theatre)
Weekly Gross Total Atten. Prev. Perf. Total Capacity Avg. Ticket Price Atten. %
American Idiot
(St. James)
$1,144,030 11,811 0 8 1,709 $96.86 86.4%
Billy Elliot
(Imperial)
$873,024 10,384 0 8 1,421 $84.07 91.3%
Chicago
(Ambassador)
$571,383 6,996 0 8 1,080 $81.67 81.0%
Colin Quinn…Short
(Hayes)
$174,730 2,893 0 8 587 $60.40 61.6%
Driving Miss Daisy
(Golden)
$334,457 4,071 0 7 804 $82.16 72.3%
Good People
(Friedman)
$296,666 4,742 8 0 650 $62.56 91.2%
Jersey Boys
(August Wilson)
$986,328 8,824 0 8 1,228 $111.78 89.8%
La Cage aux Folles
(Longacre)
$458,407 5,977 0 8 1,057 $76.70 70.7%
Lombardi
(Circle in Square)
$391,998 5,104 0 8 790 $76.80 80.8%
Mamma Mia!
(Winter Garden)
$764,201 9,732 0 8 1,498 $78.52 81.2%
Mary Poppins
(New Amsterdam)
$870,028 11,126 0 8 1,797 $78.20 77.4%
Memphis
(Shubert)
$742,499 9,025 0 8 1,470 $82.27 76.7%
Million Dollar Quartet
(Nederlander)
$462,877 6,715 0 8 1,214 $68.93 69.1%
Rain
(Atkinson)
$498,098 7,994 0 8 1,058 $62.31 94.4%
Spider-Man…Dark
(Foxwoods)
$1,476,828 14,115 8 0 1,930 $104.63 91.4%
That Championship Season
(Jacobs)
$636,883 7,582 8 0 1,071 $84.00 88.5%
The Addams Family
(Lunt-Fontanne)
$949,966 9,920 0 8 1,519 $95.76 81.6%
The Importance…Earnest
(American Airlines)
$393,099 5,756 0 8 740 $68.29 97.2%
The Lion King
(Minskoff)
$1,534,779 12,636 0 8 1,677 $121.46 94.2%
The Merchant of Venice
(Broadhurst)
$1,125,273 8,266 0 7 1,152 $136.13 102.5%
The Phantom of the Opera
(Majestic)
$718,551 9,236 0 8 1,615 $77.80 71.5%
Wicked
(Gershwin)
$1,526,036 14,100 0 8 1,809 $108.23 97.4%