The Broadway League announced May 28 that the season just ended — May 28, 2007-May 25, 2008 — took in $937.5 million (includes an estimate for Young Frankenstein, which does not report its grosses), down slightly from the previous season, which grossed $938.5 million.
Thirty-six productions opened on Broadway during 2007-2008: eight new musicals, one musical return engagement, four musical revivals, 11 new plays and 12 play revivals. Paid attendance at Broadway shows was 12.27 million, down .2 percent from the previous season.
Had the strike not occurred, League officials believe the season would have broken records at the box office (with an estimated $975 million in grosses) and in attendance (with 12.9 million tickets sold).
In a statement Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, said, "While we are disappointed that we didn't exceed last year's record-breaking season, we are confident that in the coming season, with such big name shows on the horizon as Billy Elliot, Shrek, West Side Story and Equus, to only name a few, that we will have the best season in recorded history."
* Founded in 1930 as the League of New York Theatres, the Broadway League is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. For more information visit www.broadwayleague.com.