Wicked's month-long celebration of its 20th anniversary sent its box office soaring, very nearly joining The $2 Million Club last week with $1.92 million. The show has been seeing renewed energy in ticket sales the entire month, thanks, in part, to a long list of celebratory events including special, limited edition Playbill covers throughout October, special pink and green fan performances October 28, and a starry green carpet event for the actual anniversary October 30. The long-runner might be 20 years in, but it looks like Wicked won't be heading back over the rainbow anytime soon.
Elsewhere, Merrily We Roll Along is continuing to break box-office records, setting the house record for the second consecutive week last week with $1.84 million. Stephen Sondheim revivals with A-list casts are still proving to be a reliable top grosser, with Sweeney Todd taking the fifth spot of the top five last week with $1.58 million. Also making the top five were The Lion King (the week's top winner with $2.06 million) and Hamilton.
As for plays, The Cottage played its final week on the boards to the highest grosses of its run, $368,129.20. I Need That, currently in previews and headed for a November 2 opening, continued its climbing box-office performance with $608,910.30 last week, beaten only by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for non-musical productions.
Much of the rest of the grosses remained more or less even, with cumulative grosses dropping slightly to $26.5 million (down from last week's $28.1 million). Average ticket prices are holding steady at $121.15, which likely indicates that we will see a healthy box office once the holiday season gets into gear.
Take a look at the full report here.
The $1 Million Club (shows that earned $1 million or more at the box office):
- The Lion King ($2.06 million)
- Wicked
- Merrily We Roll Along
- Hamilton
- Sweeney Todd
- MJ The Musical
- Aladdin
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Back to the Future
(10 of 28 currently running productions)
The 90s Club (shows that played to 90% or higher of their seats filled over the entire week):
- Merrily We Roll Along (100%)
- The Lion King
- Hamilton
- Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
- Wicked
- MJ The Musical
- Sweeney Todd
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- I Need That
- Aladdin
- The Book of Mormon
- Hadestown
- & Juliet
(13 of 28 currently running productions)
