The Broadway community had much to celebrate over the Presidents Day Weekend, as box office numbers soared to new heights. Grosses for the 23 productions saw a significant 27% increase from the previous week, reaching a total of $26,946,864. This surge in revenue was fueled by a remarkable 94% seat occupancy rate, with a total attendance of 201,227 patrons – marking a 7% increase from the week prior. The average ticket price also experienced a notable uptick, reaching $133.91, a considerable $20 increase from the previous week.
Among the productions that saw impressive success was The Notebook, a new musical adaptation of the beloved Nicholas Sparks novel. Despite still being in previews at the Schoenfeld Theatre, The Notebook played to standing-room-only crowds and grossed an impressive $1,013,563 in just seven shows. With its official opening night scheduled for March 14, this production is already generating significant buzz and anticipation.
While the majority of productions boasted high seat occupancy rates, a few struggled to reach the 90% mark. A Beautiful Noise, Days of Wine and Roses, and Spamalot were among the productions that fell below the desired capacity, facing challenges in attracting audiences. As spring arrivals start lining up for attention, these productions may face further difficulties in the competitive Broadway landscape.
Sweeney Todd saw a significant boost in its box office numbers with the introduction of new permanent cast members, Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster. The show experienced a $219,531 increase in revenue, reaching $1,479,716 for the week. However, uncertainties loom over the future of the revival once Tveit and Foster depart, as speculation arises about the show’s longevity.
Amid ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, productions like Appropriate faced setbacks with canceled performances. Despite these obstacles, the show managed to fill all seats for the remaining performances, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity. Doubt: A Parable also demonstrated strong audience turnout, with Amy Ryan’s debut filling 92% of seats and grossing $489,078 for the week.
Long-running productions like Chicago and The Lion King continued to thrive, with Chicago grossing $1,018,556 and The Lion King earning the title of the week’s highest earner with $2,004,314. As Broadway’s season-to-date gross surpasses $1 billion and total attendance nears 9 million, the industry is poised for continued success and growth.
Overall, the Broadway community’s resilience and adaptability were on full display over the Presidents Day Weekend, setting the stage for a bright future ahead.