The League of American Theatres and Producers (League) reports generally promising news in its routine mid-year assessment of attendance and box office grosses.

Highlights at mid-season include a record $14.3 million box office gross for Thanksgiving week in New York, a total national attendance of 11 million and a total national box office gross of $554.4 million.

In New York the mid-season box office gross now stands at $268.7 million, up from $268.2 million over the same period last year. New York attendance is at 5.2 million, just below the 5.3 million reported for the same period last year.

The League counts 10 new production openings, 16 shows currently scheduled and close to a dozen other in planning.

League president Jed Bernstein estimated that by this season's end in New York, Broadway will "come close to last year's record-breaking figures by grossing nearly $589 million with an estimated 11.4 million people attending shows." -- By Murdoch McBride