Last week, the Broadway box office experienced a slight decrease of about 3%, with a total gross of $35,295,405 for 34 productions. Despite this decrease, total attendance only dipped by just under 2%, settling at 287,246 attendees. This indicates that 91% of available seats were filled, showcasing a relatively healthy level of audience engagement. However, it is important to note that 21 out of the 34 productions reported a decrease in sales leading up to the Memorial Day Weekend holiday.
Several productions faced challenges due to canceled or fully comped performances. For example, Mother Play had to cancel two shows due to illness within the company, resulting in a significant drop in total receipts to $451,737. Similarly, Cabaret experienced a fully comped Tuesday performance, leading to a decrease in receipts to $1,721,760. These instances highlight the unpredictability and challenges that can arise in the live theater industry.
Among the productions that maintained full schedules, several noted substantial decreases in revenue. A Beautiful Noise saw a decrease of $131,227, The Who’s Tommy dropped by $130,667, Illinoise experienced a decline of $96,070, and The Great Gatsby reported a decrease of $98,829. Despite these drops, Gatsby still maintained a capacity/attendance rate of over 90%, with 93% of seats filled, indicating continued audience interest in the show.
Despite the overall decrease in box office revenue, some productions continued to perform strongly. The top earners for the week included The Lion King, Wicked, Cabaret, Merrily We Roll Along, and several others. On the other hand, newcomer Home, a Roundabout revival of a Samm-Art Williams play, faced challenges in finding its footing, grossing $99,866 for seven previews and filling 70% of seats. This highlights the competitive landscape of Broadway and the need for new productions to establish their audience and generate interest.
The Broadway box office report for the first week of the 2024-2025 season reflects a mix of successes and challenges for productions. While some shows faced declines in revenue and attendance, others continued to thrive. The industry’s resilience and ability to adapt to changing circumstances will be essential in overcoming obstacles and sustaining audience engagement in the future.