The funniest part of watching this past weekend's "Saturday Night Live" was this mock advertisement for hack trial attorneys Gublin and Green. Wonder how "uncool" the PR flacks at Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark think this is. I hate to pile-on, but personally, I think it's very cool that any Broadway show gets parodied on late night TV.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending January 16, 2011
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on the Great White Way. Last week's results were delayed until today because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on Broadway. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending January 16, 2011:
1:00 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Broadway box office plunges 11.2% last week to just $14,896,892 in grosses
1:01 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Broadway capacity down 5.72% last week to 79.36% or 170,093 seats sold out of 214,092 possible
1:02 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Broadway's average ticket price last week was down slightly to $84.61 from $85.17 week before
1:03 p.m. January 18, 2011 - At 100.1% capacity SPIDER-MAN was only sold-out Broadway show last week. Gross: $1,258,330. Avg ticket price: $108.57
1:04 p.m. January 18, 2011 - WICKED back on top as Broadway's #1 show, grossing $1,540,868 on 98.3% capacity. Average ticket price: $108.30
1:05 p.m. January 18, 2011 - THE LION KING only other Broadway show to gross over $1million last week: $1,334,354 on 83.6% capacity
1:07 p.m. January 18, 2011 - THE LION KING had Broadway's highest average ticket price last week: $118.99
1:08 p.m. January 18, 2011 - COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT had Broadway's lowest gross last week: $187,617 on 69.6% capacity. Avg tix priced $57.3
1:10 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Broadway's lowest capacity: TIME STANDS STILL at 59.4%. Gross: $363,619. Average ticket price: $70.89
1:11 p.m. January 18, 2011 - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST had week's lowest average ticket price: $50.43. Gross: $282,607 on 94.7% capacity
1:12 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Shows below 70% capacity: TIME STANDS STILL, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, AMERICAN IDIOT & COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT
1:13 p.m. January 18, 2011 - MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET still grossing $456,566 on 62.8% capacity. Average ticket price at $74.85
1:14 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Only Broadway shows to increase capacity last week: IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, LOMBARDI and SPIDER-MAN
1:15 p.m. January 18, 2011 - IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST posted week's top capacity increase of 5.3% to 94.7%
1:16 p.m. January 18, 2011 - RAIN posts week's largest capacity decline of 24.3% to 71.2%. Grosses $681,640. Average ticket price is $82.64
1:20 p.m. January 18, 2011 - Finally, NEXT TO NORMAL closes with gross of $552,653 on 96.4% capacity. $92.82 average ticket price
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Do you have any other observations about last week's box office totals? If so, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Even though I'm one of those dreaded theatre bloggers whom former Bloomberg critic (and now fellow theatre blogger) John Simon called "vermin," I have tried to play the Broadway game. That is, I have dutifully respected embargoes by not reviewing any show until the time it actually opens. After all, that's a Broadway tradition among critics, and I believe if you want to be taken seriously as a blogger, you just may want to observe the rules.
I've also gone so far as to defend this production from one particular writer, who at one time all but suggested that Spider-Man would never make it to Broadway.
Since I always buy my own tickets to see productions, I try my level best to time my attendance for each Broadway show to ensure I'm seeing one of the final previews if the work hasn't already opened.
Such was the case when I first purchased tickets back in 2009, nearly a year in advance of the originally scheduled opening date for early 2010 (those tickets were subsequently refunded after it became clear that the production was temporarily grinding to a halt).
Such was also the case when I bought tickets for a December 18 performance after the newly rescheduled opening night of December 21 was set. Subsequently, opening night shifted to late January. Since I could not get a refund, I decided to go see the preview anyway. Yet, I dutifully remained publicly mum on what I saw on stage, even after Christopher Tierney's nearly fatal fall occurred just two days later.
I further respected the embargo, even after the opening night shifted yet again to February 7, which was when theatre critics Linda Winer (Newsday) and Jeremy Gerard (Bloomberg) provided mini-reviews of preview performances they saw much to the chagrin of the production. Naturally, a spokesman for the production cried foul.
Fast forward to Thursday. With no new reports of mounting casualties or incidents, I began to think that Spider-Man just might open on February 7 after all. I decided to take the plunge and purchase tickets for my third time, booking the show for the very end of January when critics would start seeing the final, untinkered (or "frozen") version.
Later that same evening, reports surfaced that Spider-Man would postpone opening night once again, this time to March 15. Friday morning, I tweeted, "Spider-Man delays opening for fifth time to March 15 to deploy new ending. I should have waited a day to buy new tix."
It wasn't long before I heard from The New York Times' incisive theatre writer, Patrick Healy, who quotes me in his story today on how the producers are defending their decision. I told him, "As a blogger who pays for his own ticket, Spider-Man is getting to be very expensive. This is the second time I thought I had tickets to see a frozen production, only to learn that I'm only going to see another preview. They need to reconsider what they're charging for preview tickets. It's very disappointing to think I'll have to pay even more to come again and see the finished product."
Thanks, Spider-Man,for making me feel like such a chump. You've not only betrayed someone like me who, at least until now, has respected both your creative process and time-honored traditions by remaining silent on what is to be found on your stage (as well as flying over your audience), but through what is looking more and more each day like a web of deceit, you've also likely duped thousands of audience members who think they're seeing a finished product and paying full price to do so. That's just wrong.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending January 9, 2011
Spider-Man Edges Out Wicked As Number One Show
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on the Great White Way.
This week is particularly noteworthy for two reasons. Not only did Broadway's box office not fall-off as dramatically as expected for this time of year, but Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark has officially replaced longtime champ Wickedas the top-grossing show, yet only by web-thin margin.
Here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending January 9, 2011:
January 10, 2011 4:22 pm - Broadway box office down 30.13% (over $6 million) last week, but grosses still at respectable $20,750,910
January 10, 2011 4:23 pm - SPIDER-MAN is Broadway's #1 show edging WICKED by just $58! SPIDER-MAN gross $1,588,514 vs. WICKED gross of $1,588,456
January 10, 2011 4:24 pm - Broadway capacity down by just .93% to 85.9% or 232,314seats sold out of 267,513 possible
January 10, 2011 4:25 pm - Broadway's average ticket price down to $85.17 from last week high of $100.22
January 10, 2011 4:26 pm - Broadway shows grossings $1 million+ : SPIDER-MAN, WICKED, LION KING, MERCHANT OF VENICE, JERSEY BOYS, IN THE HEIGHTS
January 10, 2011 4:27 pm - Broadways shows at 100% or more capacity: MERCHANT OF VENICE, NEXT TO NORMAL, IN THE HEIGHTS, SPIDER-MAN, WICKED
January 10, 2011 4:28 pm - SPIDER-MAN became Broadway's top grossing show last week w/ $1,588,514 on 100% capacity. Average ticket price: $102.86
January 10, 2011 4:29 pm - #2 WICKED grosses $1,588,456 on 100% capacity. Average ticket price: $109.76
January 10, 2011 4:30 pm - #3 LION KING close behind with $1,550,640 gross on 95.4% capacity. Average ticket price: $121.21
January 10, 2011 4:31 pm - #4 MERCHANT OF VENICE had Broadway's highest capacity (102.5%) & avg ticket price ($134.79). Gross: $1,114,050
January 10, 2011 4:32 pm - Grosses for IN THE HEIGHTS ($1,083,254) and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC ($737,852) help shows close with bang
January 10, 2011 4:33 pm - Billie Joe Armstrong boosts AMERICAN IDIOT. Grosses $952,123 on 80.2% capacity. Average ticket price: $86.79
January 10, 2011 4:34 pm - Broadway's lowest grossing show: COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT at $217,312 on 75.9% capacity. Avg ticket price: $60.99
January 10, 2011 4:35 pm - MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET had week's lowest capacity of 65.5% (not bad) with $423,658 gross. Avg ticket price of $66.59.
January10, 2011 4:36 pm - Last week's lowest average ticket price was $50.95 for IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Gross: $269,557 on 89.4% capacity
January 10, 2011 4:37 pm - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST posted last week's biggest capacity increase of 19.3% to 89.4%
January 10, 2011 4:38 pm - PHANTOM OF THE OPERA posts week's top capacity decline of 19.7% to 78.9%. Grosses $808,761
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Do you have any other observations about last week's box office totals? If so, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 26, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on the Great White Way. Because of last weekend's blizzards over Broadway, the weekly box office report was not released until today.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on Broadway. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 26, 2010.
11:38 am December 28, 2010 - Despite snow, Broadway grosses up $1,142,016 or 4.57% to $24,993,795 last week
11:39 am December 28, 2010 - But no doubt because of blizzard, Broadway capacity up only .3% to 73.55% or 250,134 seats sold out of 330,025
11:40 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway grosses up because average ticket price up sharply last week to $91.63 from $86.28 week earlier
11:41 am December 28, 2010 - Sold-out WICKED breaks its previous box office record for Broadway show, grossing $2,153,110 last week.
11:42 am December 28, 2010 - As Broadway's toughest ticket last week, WICKED's average ticket price was a whopping $148.78 - highest among all shows
11:43 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway shows grossing $1.5 million-$2 million last week: The LION KING ($1,823,766) and ELF ($1,572,836)
11:45 am December 28, 2010 - Shows grossing $1-1.5 million last week: JERSEY BOYS, MARY POPPINS, ADDAMS FAMILY, MERCHANT, PHANTOM, BILLY ELLIOT
11:47 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway shows with 100% or more capacity: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (102.6%), SPIDER-MAN & WICKED (100% each)
11:48 am December 28, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE remains Broadway's top grossing play: $1,099,420 on 102.6% capacity. Avg ticket price: $132.89
11:49 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway shows drawing 90-99% capacity: LION KING, FELA! JERSEY BOYS, ELF and BILLY ELLIOT
11:51 am December 28, 2010 - Despite just 4 performances (one nearly fatal), sold-out SPIDER-MAN grosses $944,138 with avg ticket price of $122.30
11:52 am December 28, 2010 - ELF proves to be major holiday fare, grossing $1,572,836 on 91.6% capacity. Average ticket price: $134.02
11:54 am December 28, 2010 - TIME STANDS STILL was last week's lowest grossing show at $117,962 on 73.4% capacity. Avg ticket price: $74.42
11:57 am December 28, 2010 - Clarification on TIME STANDS STILL: Its $117,962 gross was based on just two performances last week
11:55 am December 28, 2010 - LA BÊTE drew Broadway's lowest capacity last week. Just 40.8%. Gross: $184,011. Average ticket price: $63.91
11:56 am December 28, 2010 - Practically free? A FREE MAN OF COLOR had week's cheapest ticket averaging $39.52. Gross: $143,850 on 43.6% capacity
11:58 am December 28, 2010 - Among shows with 8 performances, A FREE MAN OF COLOR had week's lowest gross of $143,850
11:59 am December 28, 2010 - Among shows with 8 performances, ADDAMS FAMILY had week's top capacity increase of 15.8% to 86.4%. Gross: $1,100,286
12:00 noon December 28, 2010 - Among shows with 8 performances, ADDAMS FAMILY had week's top capacity increase of 15.8% to 86.4%. Gross: $1,100,286
12:01 pm December 28, 2010 - DONNY & MARIE: A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS saw 17.8% decline in capacity for 5 shows to 60.3%. Gross: $481,812.
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Last evening's terrifying accident at Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark certainly is leaving us hoping the best for actor (and Spider-Man stunt double) Christopher Tierney, who was reportedly in serious but stable condition after the mishap.
But the video above offers perhaps the best analysis of the inherent dangers of Broadway shows and nuanced perspective missing in other reporting. Seriously.
Here's wishing Tierney a speedy and full recovery.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB). In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
If you're among the thousands of theatregoers who have been to Broadway over the past month or so, you'll likely have heard an appeal from onstage to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with a donation, no matter how large or small.
Please view the video, learn how Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supports over 400 local agencies across the country, and then please consider joining me in supporting this vital organization. Every little bit helps. To donate, please go here.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 19, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on the Great White Way. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 19, 2010.
3:45 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway box office drops 4.84% last week or $1,153,842 to $23,851,779 in gross grosses
3:46 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway capacity down last week by 2.8% to 73.16% or 259,268 seats sold out of 349,408 possible
3:47 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's average ticket price last week was $86.28 down from $87.41 week before
3:48 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's WICKED, LION KING, ELF, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, DONNY & MARIE, SPIDER-MAN each gross over $1 million
3:49 pm December 20, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE only grosses $645,015 last week, but that's because it only played 4 performances
3:50 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway shows grossing between $900,000 and $1 million last week: BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS & THE ADDAMS FAMILY
3:51 pm December 20, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE only show to sell-out last week with capacity of 102.6% (but only 4 performances)
3:52 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway shows attracting 90-99% capacity last week: SPIDER-MAN, ELF, WICKED, JERSEY BOYS, LION KING
3:53 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's top grossing show last week: WICKED with $1,631,743 on 97.9% capacity. Avg ticket price: $115.12 97.9%
3:54 pm December 20, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE was Broadway's toughest ticket w/4 performances, 102.6% capacity and $136.48 avg. ticket price
3:55 pm December 20, 2010 - Should have added in FELA! to shows with over 90% capacity. In final weeks FELA! at 93.6% capacity, grosses $613,717
3:56 pm December 20, 2010 - ELF is another tough ticket on Broadway, grossing $1,464,913 on 96.3% capacity. Avg. ticket price: $133.53!
3:57 pm December 20, 2010 - Another tough ticket is SPIDER-MAN at $1,036,133 on 98.9% capacity. Avg ticket price $90.45. High for show in previews!
3:58 pm December 20, 2010 - Plus, SPIDER-MAN only had 6 performances last week so gross would've been much higher than $1,036,133 w/8 performances
3:59 pm December 20, 2010 - DONNY & MARIE may have only attracted 78.1% capacity, but they grossed $1,047,740 with avg tickets priced $117.20
4:00 pm December 20, 2010 - With only 4 performances, IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST bottom gross $71,928 & avg ticket price $34.76. 69.9% capacity
4:01 pm December 20, 2010 - Among shows w/8 performances COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT lowest grosser $147,620. 48.5% capacity. Av tix priced $64.77
4:02 pm December 20, 2010 - Among shows w/8 performances FREE MAN OF COLOR had lowest avg ticket price of $50.42. Gross of $214,439 on 51% capacity
4:03 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's lowest capacity last week: LA BÊTE at 42.5%. Grosses $232,383. Average ticket price: $67.95
4:04 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway shows attracting less than 50% capacity last week? LA BÊTE, COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT and AMERICAN IDIOT
4:05 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's biggest week-over-week capacity increase? BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON up 12.4% to 79.6%. Gross: $419,303
4:06 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's biggest week-over-week capacity decline? MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET down 16.2% to 53%. Gross: $445,007
4:07 pm December 20, 2010 - Expect huge spike at Broadway box office this week, next for Christmas & New Year's holidays. Maybe 1 or 2 shows can gross over $2 million
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
In yet another nod to the Great White Way, "The Simpsons" used this year's holiday episode to pay tribute to this season's biggest Broadway hit, Wicked.
Makes me wonder what took "The Simpsons" creators so long!
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
If you could win any original Broadway cast recording, which one would you want most?
That was essentially the question I posed via Twitter and Facebook over the past week in my latest SOB Contest. Since I have been feeling very much in the holiday spirit, I decided that my gift to some of my lucky followers would be the cast recording of their choice. I then drew the names of five lucky winners.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Lynn Gaillard (Carrollton, TX), who wanted and won [title of show] cast recording.
Jayson Kerr (New York, NY), who wanted and won The Scottsboro Boyscast recording.
Evelyn Sam (Briarwood, NY), who wanted and won The Lion Kingcast recording.
Alex Wolfe (Blue Bell, PA), who wanted and won The Scottsboro Boys cast recording.
To each of these winners, as well as to all followers, let me express my deepest appreciation for following Steve On Broadway (SOB)! To the winners, please note that once I have the cast recordings of your choice in hand, I will ship them out immediately, just in time for the holidays!
So, dear readers, if you had to choose any cast recording you just have to have in your collection, which would it be? Would it be one that is already in your possession? Would it be one you have been saving up to buy? Or would it be for a rarity that is just impossible to get? I'll be curious to hear what your selection would be.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. In fact, I have even sprung for each of the cast recordings so that five lucky readers could enjoy listening to the ones they wanted most.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 12, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on the Great White Way. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 12, 2010.
3:30 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway box office up 8.53% week over week. Up nearly $2.2 million last week to $25,632,217
3:31 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway capacity up last week by 4.85% to 76.47% or 277,015 seats sold out of possible 357,102
3:32 pm December 13, 2010 - The average price of a Broadway ticket last week? $87.41. That's up from $86.73 the week before.
3:33 pm December 13, 2010 - The average gross for each Broadway show last week was $692,763, up from $651,274 week before.
3:34 pm December 13, 2010 - Total of 8 Broadway shows grossed over $1 million each last week
3:35 pm December 13, 2010 - Shows grossing over $1 million last week: WICKED, LION KING, ELF, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, MERCHANT OF VENICE, BILLY ELLIOT, ADDAMS FAMILY
3:37 pm December 13, 2010 - 9 Broadway shows attracted capacities of over 90% last week.
3:38 pm December 13, 2010 - Shows attracting 90%+ capacities:MERCHANT, SPIDERMAN, WICKED, JERSEY BOYS, LION KING, SCOTTSBORO BOYS, ELF, BILLY ELLIOT, DRIVING MISS DAISY
3:39 pm December 13, 2010 - 9 Broadway shows had an average ticket price of over $100 last week
3:41 pm December 13, 2010 - Shows over $100/avg ticket: MERCHANT, JERSEY BOYS, DONNY & MARIE, DRIVING MISS DAISY, ELF, LION KING, WICKED,ADDAMS FAMILY,PROMISES PROMISES
3:43 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's top grossing show last week: WICKED w/$1,645,313 in grosses on 98.2% capacity. Average ticket price: $115.78
3:44 pm December 13, 2010 - MERCHANT OF VENICE had Broadway's highest avg ticket price ($129.87) & highest capacity (102.6%). Gross: $1,074,410
3:45 pm December 13, 2010 - SCOTTSBORO BOYS ends run with a bang. Grosses $454,251 on 97.2% capacity (up 19.4%). Avg ticket price: $64.93
3:46 pm December 13, 2010 - Despite just 5 performances, SPIDER-MAN grosses $911,682 on 99.4% capacity. Avg ticket price: $95.02
3:47 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's lowest gross last week: COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT at $153,081 on 48.9% capacity. Avg ticket price: $66.73
3:48 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's lowest capacity was for LA BÊTE playing to 46.8% full house. Grosses $253,079. Avg ticket price $67.13
3:49 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's lowest average ticket price: PITMEN PAINTERS at $44.89. Grosses $172,345 on 73.8% capacity
3:50 pm December 13, 2010 - THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS enjoyed week's biggest capacity increase of 19.4% to 97.2%. Grosses up $171,786 week over week
3:51 pm December 13, 2010 - BRIEF ENCOUNTER had week's largest capacity decline of 16.2% to 60.3%. Gross: $300,383. Avg ticket price: $62.13
3:53 pm December 13, 2010 - DONNY & MARIE: A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS does brisk business. 5 performances gross $881,925 on 88.1% capacity.
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
I'll wager most Americans have no idea the Salvation Army is actually an organized religious faith that they're supporting every time they throw their loose change into one of their bell ringer's little red pots at this time of year.
Speaking of organized religion, I still can't help but wonder what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons, will think of the upcoming Broadway musical The Book Of Mormon. As I've previously said, I will vigorously defend the right to freedom of speech, but I have serious doubts the show's creators would ever have moved forward with a production lampooning the Islamic faith.
As for bell ringers, move your cursor over the doorknob on The Book Of Mormon's Web site and you'll hear a completely different variety. (At least no one was asking me for money, unless you count the show's tickets that start at $59.)
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 5, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
Some people live for the latest sports stats, while I love poring over each week's box office totals on the Great White Way. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 5, 2010.
3:30 pm December 6, 2010 - After Thanksgiving box office blowout, Broadway comes back down to earth with grosses down by 9.67%
3:31 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway grosses totaled $23,445,874 last week or an average of $651,274 per show
3:32 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway capacity down 2.03% last week to 71.62%, or 253,436 seats sold out of 348,912 possible
3:33 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's average ticket price last week was $86.73, down from $89.14 during Thanksgiving week.
3:34 pm December 6, 2010 - 7 Broadway shows grossed over $1 million each: WICKED, LION KING, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, ELF, MERCHANT, BILLY ELLIOT
3:35 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's highest capacity (102.5%) & top grossing play ($1,085,310): MERCHANT OF VENICE's avg tix priced: $131.30
3:36 pm December 6, 2010 - MERCHANT OF VENICE could easily earn more but it's regularly had 7 or less performances each week. Last week a "full" 7
3:37 pm December 6, 2010 - Who reigns atop all Broadway shows? WICKED ($1,566,919) by just $37,900 over LION KING ($1,529,019)
3:38 pm December 6, 2010 - WICKED remains Broadway's top grossing show with $1,566,919 on 94.5% capacity. Average ticket price is $114.62
3:39 pm December 6, 2010 - JERSEY BOYS has Broadway's highest average ticket price at $132.06 narrowly edging out MERCHANT OF VENICE's $131.30
3:40 pm December 6, 2010 - THE LION KING still going strong grossing $1,529,019 on 95.6% capacity. Average ticket price: $119.17
3:41 pm December 6, 2010 - JERSEY BOYS also remains strong grossing $1,237,955 on 95.4% capacity.
3:42 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway shows over 90% capacity: MERCHANT OF VENICE, SPIDER-MAN, LION KING, JERSEY BOYS, WICKED, BILLY ELLIOT
3:43 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway shows w/avg tix price over $100: JERSEY BOYS, MERCHANT, DRIVING MISS DAISY, ELF, LION KING, WICKED, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISESx2
3:44 pm December 6, 2010 - Playing just 5 performances last week, SPIDER-MAN grosses $919,457 on 98.2% capacity. Average ticket price at $97.11
3:46 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's lowest grossing show: COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT. Gross: $128,644. 47.1% capacity. Avg ticket price $58.10
3:47 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's lowest capacity: LA BÊTE at 40.4%. Gross: $216,038 Average ticket price still at $66.41
3:48 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's cheapest ticket? THE PITMEN PAINTERS at $45.62 average. Gross: $154,367 on 65.1% capacity
3:49 pm December 6, 2010 - THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, closing this Sunday, was at 77.8% capacity. Gross: $282,465 with $50.43 avg ticket price
3:51 pm December 6, 2010 - BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON which posted closing notice grossed $315,796 on 58.8% capacity. $65.18 avg ticket price
3:52 pm December 6, 2010 - Billie Joe Armstrong can't come back soon enough. AMERICAN IDIOT grossed $424,812 on 43.3% capacity. $71.73 Avg tix
3:54 pm December 6, 2010 - Last week's closing notice for SCOTTSBORO BOYS helped it earn Broadway's highest capacity gain of week. Up 18% to 77.8%
3:55 pm December 6, 2010 - Week's biggest capacity decline? PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, dropping 25.8% to 65.3%. Grosses $690,663, down over $333,000
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
