Broadway bid farewell to two productions last week, Harmony and Purlie Victorious. While both shows were considered underperforming, Harmony managed to fill an impressive 99% of seats at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The musical, which tells the story of the real-life German singing group, the Comedian Harmonists, grossed $853,055 for the week ending February 4. This marked a significant increase of $145,978 compared to the previous week. It seems that last-chancers were eager to experience this unique production before it closed. However, despite its success in terms of attendance, Purlie Victorious failed to fill as many seats, with only 81% of the Music Box being occupied. Nevertheless, the universally acclaimed comedy revival starring Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young brought in $706,882, a boost of $58,090 over the previous week.
Broadway Box Office Performance
In total, the 25 Broadway productions recorded a weekly gross of $23,493,675, representing a slight 5% increase from the previous week. This figure was remarkably similar to the box office revenue from the same week in the previous year. It is worth noting that the total attendance for the week reached 213,281, indicating a 2% increase over the previous week and a 9% increase compared to the same period last year. The average seat occupancy rate was 93%, with the majority of available seats being filled.
Sweeney Todd, which experienced a decline in recent weeks after the departure of stars Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, witnessed a boost in its box office performance. The production’s total receipts amounted to $857,422, reflecting an increase of $81,341 compared to the previous week. Additionally, the attendance rate rose to 95% of capacity. One possible reason for this upward trend could be attributed to the arrival of Heartstopper star Joe Locke in the supporting role of Tobias.
Other Notable Numbers
Several other productions achieved noteworthy milestones in their box office performance. How To Dance In Ohio, which was nearing its final performance on February 11, saw a substantial increase of $124,975, bringing its gross to $628,710 for the week. The play managed to attract an audience at 94% of capacity at the Belasco Theatre. In its impressive 27-year history on Broadway, Chicago had its most successful non-holiday week, grossing $939,177. Doubt: A Parable, which is the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of John Patrick Shanley’s play, commenced with two previews at the newly renamed Todd Haimes Theatre. It achieved a gross of $157,190, with attendance peaking at 84% of capacity.
Season to date, Broadway has generated a phenomenal gross revenue of $1,069,331,414, with a total attendance of 8,495,046. These figures demonstrate the enduring popularity and financial success of the industry. Although some productions faced challenges and ultimately closed, the overall box office numbers indicate growth and resilience. Broadway continues to captivate audiences and deliver exceptional entertainment experiences. For a comprehensive overview of box office listings, please visit The Broadway League’s website.