In a week that encompassed the third and final frame of NYC Broadway Week, Broadway’s box office declined slightly. For the week ending Feb. 4, the 25 currently running Broadway shows grossed a total $23,493,675, a 4.6% decrease from the week ending Jan. 28. 213,281 attendances were counted in week 37 of the 2023-2024 Broadway season, representing a 2.1% decrease from the previous week. Capacity-wise, however, 93.2% of all available seats were filled in Broadway houses, up from 91.8%.
While gross decreased from the week prior, this week’s gross is nearly identical to week 37 of last season, where Broadway took in $23,518,702. This week’s gross averages out to $939,747 per show, which is above the ten year average of $896,980 gross per show for week 37.
Additionally, compared to this week last year, attendance is up 9.1% from the 195,520 admissions seen during week 37 of 2022-2023.
Eight shows increased in gross from the previous week. “Chicago” had the largest increase ($271,030, bringing the box office total to $939,177), which coincided with reality television star Ariana Madix’s first week in her tenure as Roxie Hart.
Two shows closed Feb. 4—“Harmony” and “Purlie Victorious”—both of which boasted the highest-grossing weeks of their runs. “Harmony” grossed $853,055, while “Purlie Victorious” took in $706,882.”
As was the case last week, “Hamilton,” “The Lion King” and “Wicked” were the industry’s top-three earners. However, this week “The Lion King” eclipsed “Hamilton” for the top spot, taking in $1,666,828. “Hamilton” wasn’t far behind, earning $1,656,990. In the third-place spot, “Wicked” grossed $1,602,195. The lowest-earning show that played a full week of performances was Manhattan Theatre Club’s “Prayer for the French Republic,” which grossed $494,282. Only the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of “Doubt” had a smaller take at the box office, which made $157,190 for its initial two previews at the newly named Todd Haimes Theatre.
In addition to the top-three earners, only six shows took in over $1 million: “& Juliet” ($1,010,599), “Aladdin” ($1,068,374), “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” ($1,113,052), “Merrily We Roll Along” ($1,517,469), “MJ” ($1,317,469) and “Moulin Rouge!” ($1,119,593). For only the second time since the show began previews in June 2023, “Back to the Future” dipped below the $1 million threshold, taking in $953,045. For the third week in a row, no show grossed over $2 million.
Attendance-wise, “Harmony” welcomed 8,140 admissions to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, the highest of its run. Two blocks down, “Purlie Victorious” concluded its run with its second-best attended week, clocking in 6,482 attendances at the Music Box Theatre. “How to Dance in Ohio” saw a 14% increase in admissions, posting its highest attendance figure to date: 7,449.
No show posted an average paid admission over $200, the first time since the week ending Oct. 8, 2023. “Merrily We Roll Along,” nevertheless, once again had the highest, at $196.36. This is only the second time the revival has had an average admission of less than $200. “Appropriate” once again had the second-highest average paid admission: $166.98. The third-highest was “Hamilton,” averaging $157.42 per attendance. The lowest average paid admissions were “Days of Wine and Roses” ($77.84), “Spamalot” ($82.49) and “Aladdin” ($82.80).
As the show approaches its Feb. 11 closing date, “How to Dance in Ohio” filled the seats of the Belasco to 94% capacity, the first time the musical has passed the 90% benchmark in its run. 18 other shows filled their seats to 90% capacity or greater: “& Juliet,” “Aladdin,” “Appropriate,” “Back to the Future,” “Chicago,” “Harry Potter,” “MJ,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “Prayer for the French Republic,” “SIX,” “Sweeney Todd,” “The Book of Mormon” and “The Lion King.” “Hadestown,” “Hamilton,” “Harmony” and “Wicked” all played to 99% capacity houses, while “Merrily” filled every seat of the Hudson Theatre.
With a season-to-date gross total of $1,069,331,414, this season continues to lag slightly (3.8%) behind the 2022-2023 season. Attendance to date is 8,495,046, a scant 0.9% down from last season. Broadway has filled its seats to 88.8% capacity to date this season, up 1.2% from this point last year.
