Some Broadway goodbyes translated to major cash at the box office last week, with audiences flocking to theatres for their last chance to see some of their favorite departing shows and stars.
The primary benefactor of this phenomenon was the starry revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd. Its A-list leads, Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban, have made the production a regular top grosser since it began almost a year ago. Both played their final performances in the revival January 14, and theatre fans eager for one last visit to Fleet Street with the pair made the production Broadway's highest grosser of the week, beating even The Lion King. Sweeney's box office take, $2.1 million, falls short of its all-run high ($2.26 million, from the week of Christmas and New Year's), but the duo nevertheless finished strong. It is the first time the revival has been the highest grossing-production on Broadway.
We also said goodbye to Shucked January 14, which enjoyed the highest-grossing week of its entire run with $1.1 million (the previous high was $1.05 million over Christmas and New Year's). But no worries, heartbroken shuckers—apparently you have a movie adaptation to look forward to.
The rest of the top five of the week was filled out by usual suspects The Lion King, Hamilton, Merrily We Roll Along, and Wicked, the latter of which continues to be the most attended show on the Main Stem as well. Average and top ticket prices continue to be the best indicator for success at the box office. Merrily leads both of those measures, with a top ticket price of $649 (up from $599, last seen pre-Thanksgiving) and an average ticket of $237.43. Producers no doubt wish they could add a folder chair or two to the Hudson to send their box office even higher.
Take a look at the full report here.
The $1 Million Club (shows that earned $1 million or more at the box office):
- Sweeney Todd ($2.11 million)
- The Lion King
- Hamilton
- Merrily We Roll Along
- Wicked
- MJ The Musical
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Back to the Future
- Gutenberg! The Musical!
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- & Juliet
- Shucked
- Spamalot
- The Book of Mormon
- SIX: The Musical
(15 of 26 currently running productions)
The 90s Club (shows that played to 90% or higher of their seats filled over the entire week):
- Sweeney Todd (100.79%)
- Hamilton (100.59%)
- Hadestown (100.23%)
- Merrily We Roll Along (100%)
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Gutenberg! The Musical
- Shucked
- SIX: The Musical
- Prayer for the French Republic
- The Book of Mormon
- Back to the Future
- The Lion King
- & Juliet
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Wicked
- Aladdin
- Kimberly Akimbo
(17 of 26 currently running productions)