As Broadway’s spring season progresses, the Tony season box office ranking starts to take shape, with some shows standing out as strong performers. An Enemy of the People, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and Hell’s Kitchen continue to be repeat sell-outs, showcasing their popularity among theatergoers. Joining them in the top tier are The Outsiders and Stereophonic, both of which saw significant increases in box office revenue. The Outsiders rose by $129,650 to $1,023,827, while Stereophonic jumped by $92,392 to $683,911. These five shows are well represented among the Tony nominees, solidifying their positions as frontrunners in the season.
While not hitting sell-out status, a second batch of newcomers demonstrated their strength during the week ending May 12. Appropriate, with an increase of more than $43,000 to $702,686, filled 91% of its seats, indicating a strong audience demand. Mary Jane and Mother Play maintained steady attendance around 97% of capacity, showing consistency in their performance. Suffs, The Great Gatsby, and The Wiz each experienced box office jumps of over $100,000, settling into the impressive 91% to 95% of capacity range. Illinoise, despite filling 94% of its seats, saw a decrease in revenue to $679,737 due to a canceled performance following a tragic event.
The Who’s Tommy, nominated for Best Musical Revival, and Lempicka saw noticeable increases in box office revenue, with Tommy up $80,674 to $991,028 and Lempicka rising by $144,424 to $419,472. However, Lempicka also announced an early closing notice of May 19, raising concerns about its sustainability. The Notebook and Water For Elephants also saw increases in revenue, while Uncle Vanya experienced the biggest drop-off, down $83,365 to $914,675. Patriots and The Heart of Rock and Roll were among the shows that saw decreases in box office revenue, with attendance levels below 70%.
In total, the 34 Broadway productions, new and existing, grossed $35,727,377 for the week, marking a 3% increase over the previous week and a significant 14% increase over the same period last year. Total attendance reached 286,841, about 91% of capacity, a slight decrease from the previous week but an 8% increase from last year. Season to date, Broadway has grossed $1,502,896,749, a 3% decrease from last year at this time, while total attendance remains steady at 11,995,066. The figures, provided by The Broadway League, paint a complex picture of the current state of Broadway’s spring season.
Broadway’s spring season showcases a mix of strong performers, steady contenders, and struggling shows. The diversity in box office revenue and attendance levels reflects the dynamic nature of the theater industry. As the season progresses and the Tony Awards approach, the competition among shows will intensify, making for an exciting and unpredictable conclusion to the Broadway season.