According to the League, this was the first time attendance creeped past the 12 million mark.

Grosses, meanwhile, hit a new record, increasing 12 percent from $768.5 million to $861.6 million.

Thirty-nine plays and musicals opened during the 2005-06 season. The percentage of seats filled at those show for the season was an all-time high of 81.6 percent. Additionally, the number of playing weeks—that is, the number of weeks that Broadway theatres were occupied by shows—was the third highest on record: 1,501 playing weeks, up from 1,494 during 2004-05.

"This season was marked by tremendous new musicals and plays, offering audiences a diversity of shows from which to choose," said Jed Bernstein, President of The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc, in a prepared statement. "Although the strong business results continue to underline Broadway's revenue stakes in New York, increasing cost pressures have resulted in no increase in the number of shows making a profit. Broadway is still a high risk investment."

Broadway shows which officially claimed recoupment of their investments during the 2005-06 season included Sweeney Todd, Bridge & Tunnel, Spamalot, The Pillowman, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Glengarry Glen Ross, Julius Caesar and Doubt. The sold-out The Odd Couple and Three Days of Rain also likely made a healthy profit.