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Two long-running musicals put in nine performances last week and profited well from the arrangement. The Lion King's extra performance collected as expected windfall. Tallies were more than $250,000 above last week and attendance was up by 1,702.
Wicked, meanwhile, stayed at just below capacity through the week, but nonetheless saw 1,323 more souls in the seats. Monies were up a solid $168,000, and the weekly take stood at 115% of the potential box office. Both shows are playing in two of the biggest houses on Broadway, the Minskoff and the Gershwin.
That latter number was not the best of the week, however. The ever-popular Hedwig and the Angry Inch drew 127% of its possible earnings. The only other shows punching above their weight were A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (106%), Aladdin (109%), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (102%), and The Book of Mormon (118%).
Premium tickets certainly help push the above shows over the top. Mormon has always led the pack in this category, currently asking a top price of $477 for its premium passes. But a number of other musicals command admissions that rise above $300, including Wicked ($300), Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill ($302), A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder ($327), Kinky Boots ($349) and Cabaret ($350). Newsies, which will close Aug. 24, played to 98% capacity crowds and raked in 84% of possible ducats. Attendance and monies were slightly up from last week. Also counting down the days is Rocky, which will end its Broadway run Aug. 17. The boxing musical performed before seats that were 84% filled and brought in 60% of its possible box office. Dollars collected rose $66,000 from last week's number. Attendance climbed by 874.
Some of the old war horses are doing nicely by the summer tourist trade. The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic sold 99% of its houses. Mamma Mia!, at the Broadhurst, found enough ABBA fans to play to 96% capacity. And the latest reboot of Les Miserables enjoyed 96%-full auditoriums.
Overall numbers were nearly static. Comprehensive box office was $26,391,544, about $700,000 less than last week, when Broadway boasted 27 shows instead of 26. And theatregoers numbered 241,795, a drop of about 6,500.
