With the fall season of productions underway, Broadway’s box office saw a significant uptick.
For the week ending Sept. 18, the 24 productions on Broadway grossed $24,954,517 and played to 91% capacity. These figures are each up 21% and 1%, respectively.
Last week also marked the second week of NYC’s Broadway Week, where participating shows offer 2-for-1 tickets. The program runs through Sept. 25.
“The Music Man,” “Hamilton” and “MJ” were the three highest-grossing productions, all earning upwards of $1.7 million. Three productions — “Come From Away,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “MJ” — played to full houses.
Four shows began previews last week: “Leopoldstadt,” “Cost of Living,” “1776” and “Death of a Salesman.” Each will open in October.
“Dear Evan Hansen” concluded its Broadway run on Sunday. In its final week, the musical grossed $1,251,593, up 19%, and played to over 100% capacity. Financially, this was the production’s highest-grossing week since the beginning of 2022.
“The Kite Runner” enjoyed its highest-grossing week yet, bringing in $386,916 and playing to 78% capacity. Both figures are up 14% and 6%, respectively, from last week.
Meanwhile, “Funny Girl” saw its newest Fanny, Lea Michele, fall ill with COVID-19 after less than a full week of performances. With her standby, Julie Benko, taking over in her absence, the show earned $1,136,518, down 31%, and played to 84% capacity, down 12%. Michele returned to the production on Tuesday night.
A handful of productions set closing dates last week, including “The Music Man.” The musical revival, which will end its run in January 2023, returned to an eight-performance week following a planned hiatus, earning $2,954,063 and playing to 97% capacity.
“The Phantom of the Opera” announced on Friday that it will shutter in February 2023. Last week, the longest-running Broadway musical grossed $964,172, up 11%, and played to 89% capacity, up 10%.
“Beetlejuice” also posted a closing notice; the musical will end its run in January 2023. Despite its devout following, the show has struggled since it reopened earlier this year at the Marquis Theatre, consistently playing to less than 80% capacity. Last week, the musical grossed $930,797, up 6%, and played to 83% capacity, up 7%.
