Theater News

Wicked Becomes Broadway’s Highest-Grossing Show for a Record Nine Years Straight

Ozian investors rejoicify as Wicked dominates the Broadway box office and approaches $3 Billion in ticket sales worldwide.

Jackie Burns in <I>Wicked</I>.
Jackie Burns in Wicked.
© Joan Marcus

No one mourns the Wicked, least of all the investors in the original Broadway production (currently playing to sold-out audiences nightly at The Gershwin Theatre). This week the Tony Award-winning musical goldmine by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman made Broadway history by becoming the first musical ever to top the Broadway Grosses for nine consecutive years.

That beats the previous record-holder The Phantom of the Opera which led the grosses for eight years in the late 80s and 90s (albeit not consecutively…thank you Miss Saigon).

Based on the eponymous novel by Gregory Maguire and set in the land of Oz, Wicked is the story of two school time frenemies, Galinda and Elphaba who grow up to become Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. But appearances are not always what they seem in this musical spectacular that features hit songs like “Popular,” “For Good,” and “Defying Gravity.”

Last week, Wicked pulled in $2.9 million on Broadway, just ahead of Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark ($2.7 million) and The Lion King ($2.7 million). This massive chunk of change is made possible in part by the gargantuan Gershwin Theatre. As one of the largest spaces on Broadway, it can accommodate more patrons than the average Broadway house: it played to 16,281 last week. While Spider-Man actually played to more people (16,946), Wicked’s average ticket price was $20.69 higher than Spider-Man’s, proving that nearly a decade on, plenty of theatergoers still flock to see their favorite green girl Defy Gravity. For more Broadway Grosses, click here.

With seven standing productions and two North American tours, Wicked is expected to break the $3 Billion mark in worldwide ticket sales this year. So, take that:

Featured In This Story