Broadway Sets New Attendance and Box Office Records
For the similar period last year, attendance was 283,293 and the gross was $25.2 million.
However, the week was only the second highest in history in terms of capacity at 94.4%; the record was 95.5% set during the similar week in 2001. Ten of the 30 shows currently playing on the Main Stem reported a capacity of 100% or better (including standing room), and many shows, including Wicked, Jersey Boys, and Avenue Q, set house records.
The increased gross was due in part to a larger number of premium seats sold at hit shows as well as an overall jump in ticket prices, with many shows now charging in excess of $111 for orchestra seats. Nonetheless, in a statement, the League’s executive director, Charlotte St. Martin, pointed out that increased pre-production and running costs have made it more difficult for shows to recoup their investment and turn a profit.
