Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending January 2, 2011
Wicked Soars To New Heights
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 and this week marks a banner week, not only for all of Broadway, but for a show that has just broken its own Rialto record: Wicked.
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 2, 2011:
6:42 pm January 3, 2011 - Banner week on Broadway as grosses up over $10 million (28.58%) last week over Christmas week to whopping $34,997,576
6:43 pm January 3, 2011 - Broadway capacity soared 14.3% to 87.85% or 329,604 seats sold out of 368,210 with many shows in final performances
6:44 pm January 3, 2011 - Broadway got expensive last week as average ticket price shot up to $100.22 from $91.63 week before.
6:45 pm January 3, 2011 - Sold-out WICKED sets new Broadway box office record grossing $2,228,235. Also had top average ticket price: $153.97
6:46 pm January 3, 2011 - Broadway's #2 show, sold-out LION KING came close to grossing $2 million at $1,992,270. Average ticket price: $148.49
6:47 pm January 3, 2011 - Sold-out #3 show SPIDER-MAN played 1st complete 8-show week, grossing $1,880,833 w/ avg ticket price of $121.79
6:48 pm January 3, 2011 - Only other Broadway show grossing over $1.5 million:BILLY ELLIOT at $1,518,486. 99.1% capacity.Avg ticket price $119.79
6:49 pm January 3, 2011 - All totaled, an astounding 17 Broadway shows enjoyed grosses of more than $1 million last week.
6:50 pm January 3, 2011 - Broadway's top play MERCHANT OF VENICE had week's highest capacity: 102.5%. Grosses $1,175,750. Avg tix priced $142.24
6:51 pm January 3, 2011 - Show drawing 100% or more capacity: MERCHANT, FELA, JERSEY BOYS, WICKED, LION KING, SPIDER-MAN, BLOODYx2 ANDREW JACKSON
6:53 pm January 3, 2011 - The average ticket price for an amazing 20 Broadway shows was more than $100 each
6:54 pm January 3, 2011 - Only two Broadway shows saw declines in capacity last week: MERCHANT OF VENICE (-.1%) and TIME STANDS STILL (-5.8%)
6:55 pm January 3, 2011 - ELF (-$227,843) and DONNY & MARIE (-$49,826) were only 2 Broadway shows grossing less last week than week before
6:56 pm January 3, 2011 - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST had Broadway's lowest gross last week: $235,694 on 70.1% capacity.Avg tix priced $56.83
6:57 pm January 3, 2011 - A FREE MAN OF COLOR had Broadway's lowest avg ticket price of $53.05. Gross: $236,459 on 53.5% capacity.
6:58 pm January 3, 2011 - LA BÊTE had Broadway's lowest capacity last week of 49.5%. Grosses $308,549 with average ticket price of $68.83
7:00 pm January 3, 2011 - As truly stratospheric as past week's Broadway box office was 9 shows closed because January marks the start of annual doldrums.
7:01 pm January 3, 2011 - Plus even more shows will close throughout the rest of the month.
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.
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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!
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Exactly seven years ago this evening, the global theatrical phenomenon known as Wickedfirst opened on Broadway.
Despite mixed reviews, the musical not only defied gravity, but also expectations with a reign at or near the top of the Great White Way's weekly box office for most of those years. To this day, the show still regularly plays to a capacity crowd. Over the past year, Wicked has also surpassed all box office gross records, being the first Broadway show to ever take in over $2 million in a single week.
As the production celebrates around the world with Wicked Day 2010, it's safe to say that no one mourns the Wicked. Here's to the next lucky seven.
In keeping with the new 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.com quotes Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, who says, "It'll probably be in 3-D because that's where all [movies] are going." Of course, not everyone is enamored by 3-D filmmaking. Esteemed critic Roger Ebert is among those who makes a pretty good case against the technology.
Now that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowethhave apparently been told they're "too old" to recreate their stage turns as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, on the silver screen, the search is on for actresses who can attract audiences. In the Broadway.com interview, Schwartz mentions the possibility for casting the younger Idina Menzel-doppelgänger Lea Michele, as well as "meeting" director Ryan Murphy. But neither is on board yet with the film version that Schwartz said remains "a twinkle in our eye" for the time being.
So dear readers, would you like to see Wicked in 3-D? Please vote in my latest SOB Poll below and then weigh-in!
In keeping with the new 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.
Wicked (The SOB Review) - Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri, Helsinki, Finland
***1/2 (out of ****)
For the third time, Stephen Schwartz's musical Wicked is being produced in a language other than English.
Yet the show now playing at the Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri (Helsinki City Theatre) is the first "non-replicated" production ever of the tuner, meaning that Wicked isn't using the original Broadway staging. Instead, it's been conceived with new creative designs that lends an incredibly fresh perspective to this already classic work, thanks to Hans Berndtsson's inventive direction.
While the Finns -- or for that matter the rest of the world -- may not know "The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz" quite the way Americans do (we've practically been weaned on the movie since birth), almost nothing is lost in translation in Berndtsson's reimagined Wicked.
In fact, his vision hews this incarnation much closer to the 1939 film, complete with a dazzling double for Dorothy (Hanna Mönkäre) -- the first time this character has been seen on stage in Wicked. The girl in the blue gingham dress drops in at appropriate times throughout the performance including the climax, which proves to be eminently more satisfying than the Broadway original. This Wicked better complements the film than the original mounting, which in retrospect left some sizeable gaps between it and its forebear.
Given Finland's close proximity to the fomer Soviet Union (Helsinki is less than 200 miles away from the Russian border), perhaps it's no surprise that the sinister Wizard (Eero Saarinen) is drawn with Soviet-style shadings as he attempts to tamp down the peasants by giving them a new enemy in Elphaba (Maria Ylipää). I couldn't help but think Saarinen's Wizard as a perfect doppelgänger for Alec Baldwin aping Joseph Stalin. Berndttson's choices here, along with further nuance for the once-speaking animals subtly blended in throughout the show, prove chillingly effective.
Less so is the director's conception of Oz, where he seems to have attempted to insert more pages from Gregory Maguire's much more graphic and decidedly more adult book. Oz apparently has a seedy underbelly, complete with what appears to be a leather disco where Elphaba and Glinda (Anna-Maija Tuokko) celebrate their "One Fine Day" ("Päivän Vain") in the Emerald City. More bizarre is a series of bubbles that come alive with scantily clad dancers during "Loistavaa" ("Wonderful") as the Wizard is trying to woo Elphaba back into his fold. Are these the same bubbles that the Wizard has created for Glinda to come and gone by?
However, Wicked is ultimately about "The Wizard Of Oz" backstory of how two very different women find friendship and empowerment. In this regard, Berndttson's vision doesn't disappoint and in fact excels. Tuokko is as giddy and gorgeous as any Glinda I've seen, and her comic timing and agile voice couldn't be better. Ylipää effortlessly wins our hearts as the misunderstood green girl. Both Ylipää's Elphaba and Tuokko's Glinda soar, whether by bubble or broom, to breathtaking heights by putting their own indelible stamps on these roles and making them their own.
Overall, this Wicked is fresh, exciting, absolutely wonderful and full of aahs. For me, it was most definitely worth the trip.
Click here to view the offical program. Currently, this production of Wicked is selling tickets through December 31, 2010.
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Yesterday afternoon, I touched down at a relatively chilly HEL with the Love Of My Life (LOML) and one of our dearest friends. My LOML and I are still trekking the globe in our continued quest to see Stephen Schwartz's Wicked around the world.
Regular readers know that for my LOML and I, this is "our musical." Some couples have their song, we have our musical. (And only our dearest of dear friends completely understand why this tuner has resonated with us since we first saw it two days after it opened on Broadway nearly 7 years ago.)
By the time this posts, I'll have just experienced the first "non-replicated" production of the musical at Finland's Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri (Helsinki City Theatre) during a Saturday afternoon matinee (there are no evening performances today). Non-replicated means that this Wicked does not use the original Broadway staging. Instead, it's been conceived with new creative designs under Hans Berndtsson's direction. But glimpse through the official program, and you'll see many familiar elements.
The Helsinki staging marks the fourth language and the sixth nation in which my LOML and I have seen Wicked. What a wonderful journey it's been, particularly in experiencing such different cultures, sights, cuisines and best of all, the people.
Currently, this production of Wicked is selling tickets through December 31, 2010. I'll provide more insights on the show once I return home from this Oz next week.
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On Thursday, August 26, the very first non-replicated production of Stephen Schwartz's global phenom Wicked premiered at Finland's Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri (Helsinki City Theatre). After nearly seven years of sold-out or nearly sold-out performances on Broadway, Wicked remains the number one grossing show on the Great White Way.
"Non-replicated" means that this Wicked is not bound by the original Broadway staging and is being conceived with entirely fresh creative designs under Hans Berndtsson's direction.
But fear not, die-hard Wicked fans, because although Schwartz's score and Winnie Holzman's book have been translated into the Finnish language, they are the two elements that remain essentially intact.
For production stills, along with an approximate English translation, as well as initial audience reaction in Helsinki, please go here.
This production allow audiences to see an actress portraying Dorothy for the very first time. But of course, the real stars of Wicked are Maria Ylipää as Elphaba opposite Anna-Maija Tuokko as Glinda. Other cast members include Ursula Salo (Madame Morrible), Tuukka Leppänen (Fiyero), Eero Saarinen (the Wizard), Antti Lang (Boq), Vuokko Hovatta (Nessarose) and Heikki Sankari (Doctor Dillamond).
Currently, this production of Wicked is selling tickets through December 31, 2010. I'll be in the audience this coming Saturday with a full report to come shortly after.
In keeping with the new 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.
Two nights ago, I had a fabulously ridiculous dream.
In it, I was seeing a Broadway show alongside The New York Times' critics Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood, two men I've never met in person, but have certainly observed. It was a bizarre dream to be sure, especially since much like the rest of last season, I found myself disagreeing with Isherwood's assessment of the show, but agreeing with Brantley's (fortunately in this phantasm, the Gray Lady's senior critic was responsible for writing the review).
Imagine my delight upon waking to find myself agreeing with Isherwood regarding his excellent assessment of replacement casts.
In particular, I could not agree with him more that A Little Night Musicconstitutes the "must-see" production this summer. It's been positively transformed, largely on the heartstopping performance of Bernadette Peters. So transformative was her rendition of "Send In The Clowns" that you could hear a pin drop as she delivered it.
Having also seen Peters and her replacement Reba McEntire in the most recent Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun, I have to admit to concurring with his assessment that McEntire's performance eclipsed that of the tried-and-true Broadway Baby she replaced. I enjoyed Bernadette Peters in the title role, but the scrappy McEntire was born to play Annie Oakley. It is rather ironic that until I saw Peters as Desiree Armfeldt, Reba McEntire was my favorite Broadway replacement I ever had the thrill of seeing.
Additional props to Isherwood not only for discussing how truly disappointing the successors to Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were in The Producers, but also for mentioning the fine replacements Jonathan Pryce and Estelle Parsons made for John Lithgow (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Deanna Dunagan (August: Osage County), respectively. While I thought Pryce's sophisticated delivery of the con artist Lawrence was an improvement over Lithgow, I'm convinced after beholding Dunagan perform as Violet Weston yet again last week that no one can ever quite match her bravura Tony Award-winning performance.
That goes double, by the way, for Dunagan's co-star Rondi Reed as Mattie Fae Aiken. I've witnessed two other actresses attempt making that delicious role their own. Try as they might, neither could erase my fond memory of the quintessential Mattie Fae. Coincidentally, Reed has also succeeded in winning my heart as the absolute best of the dozen or more Madame Morribles I've ever seen in Wicked.
So, dear readers, who are your favorite replacements? Or if your fabulously ridiculous dreams could come true, whom would you want to see as replacements in a current Broadway show?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 August 1, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending August 1, 2010:
5:05 pm August 2 - Broadway box office down slightly last week, grossing $20,117,169 or off almost $600,000 (2.92%)
5:06 pm August 2 - Broadway capacity down .79% to 83.23% (223,541 seats sold out of 265,788)
5:07 pm August 2 - Broadway's average ticket price last week was $86.92 compared with $87.85 one week earlier
5:08 pm August 2 - 7 shows grossed $1 million+ each last week: WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS, M POPPINS, PROMISESx2, B ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS
5:09 pm August 2 - Sold-out WICKED remains top grossing show on Broadway earning $1,720,540 last week. Average ticket price: $118.89
5:10 pm August 2 - Last week's #2 show LION KING had week's highest average ticket price: $122.44. Grossed $1,643,193 on 100% capacity
5:11 pm August 2 - WICKED and LION KING also tie for week's highest capacity at 100% each
5:12 pm August 2 - Other shows with 90% capacity or more: BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, MAMMA MIA! S PACIFIC, POTO
5:13 pm August 2 - Last week, RACE had Broadway's lowest gross $232,129 and lowest capacity 42.7%. Average ticket price: $64.19
5:14 pm August 2 - NEXT TO NORMAL had week's lowest average ticket price: $60.47. Grossed only $285,890 but on 76.6% capacity.
5:15 pm August 2 - Broadway's lowest grossing shows were RACE, NEXT TO NORMAL, LEND ME A TENOR, LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC & MILLION $ QUARTET
5:16 pm August 2 - Broadway's lowest capacity shows were RACE, COME FLY AWAY and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, all under 60%
5:17 pm August 2 - Biggest capacity increase of week was for LA CAGE, up 8.3% to 83.2%. Grossed $660,053. Average ticket price: $93.82
5:18 pm August 2 - Biggest capacity decrease of week was HARRY CONNICK, JR. who added 2 shows late. Down 14.4% to 85.7%. Gross: $723,455
5:20 pm August 2 - While A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC only grossed $430,467 due to critics coming back to review, capacity was up to 88.1%
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 July 25, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending July 25, 2010:
3:45 pm July 26 - Big week on Broadway last week as total grosses at $20,704,716. Up over $600,000 from week before
3:46 pm July 26 - Broadway capacity last week up nearly 1% to 84.02%. 227,360 tickets out of 267,232 possible sold.
3:47 pm July 26 - Average ticket price on Broadway last week: $87.85
3:48 pm July 26 - Nine Broadway shows grossed over $1 million each last week. Two more just below $1 million (MAMMA MIA! & MEMPHIS)
3:49 pm July 26 - Top grossing shows: WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISESx2, M POPPINS, CONNICK, B ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS, PHANTOM
3:50 pm July 26 - Sold-out WICKED was Broadway's top grossing show last week with $1,707,154 Average ticket price: $117.96
3:51 pm July 26 - HARRY CONNICK JR. drew last week's highest capacity: 101.1% + week's highest av tix price: $131.39. Grosses $1,139,695
3:52 pm July 26 - RACE has bottom 3 again: Lowest gross $239,745 Lowest av ticket price $63.31 Lowest capacity 44.7%
3:53 pm July 26 - WEST SIDE STORY scores top weekly capacity gain of 81.% to 79.1%. Grosses $761,221. Av tix priced $70.93
3:54 pm July 26 - LA CAGE has week's biggest capacity decline of 13% to 74.9% with Kelsey Grammer on vacation. Grosses $586,590
3:55 pm July 26 - Broadway's lowest grossing shows last week from bottom: RACE, NEXT TO NORMAL, LEND ME A TENOR, MILLION $ QUARTET
3:56 pm July 26 - Broadway's lowest capacity shows last week: RACE, COME FLY AWAY, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, LEND ME A TENOR - All under 70%
3:58 pm July 26 - This year's Tony-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS stealthily builds audience. Grosses $960,594 on 95.2% capacity
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 July 18, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending July 18, 2010:
3:45 pm July 19 - Broadway box office increased by nearly $1 million last week over previous week to $20,126,661
3:46 pm July 19 - Broadway capacity increased 3.55% to 83.05% last week. 221,227 seats sold out of 264,344. Average ticket price: $88.55
3:47 pm July 19 - Sold-out WICKED edges LION KING out by $57,000 as top grossing Broadway show of week
3:48 pm July 19 - WICKED grosses $1,681,570 on Broadway last week. Average ticket price: $116.19. 100% capacity.
3:49 pm July 19 - THE LION KING at #2 grosses $1,624,092 last week. Has week's top capacity at 100.1%. Average ticket price: $120.96
3:50 pm July 19 - HARRY CONNICK JR: week's highest average ticket price on Broadway at $131.51. 4 shows gross $757,620. 99.7% capacity
3:51 pm July 19 - Underperforming RACE has week's dubious distinction: Bottom trifecta. Gross: $240,329/Av tix priced $63.13/Capacity 45%
3:52 pm July 19 - ROCK OF AGES picks up largest capacity gain with 7.9% to 81.1%. Grosses $530,383 with average ticket price of $81.99
3:53 pm July 19 - After hiatus, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC posts largest capacity drop: 17.2% to 80.6%. Grosses $501,212. Av tix priced $83.48
3:54 pm July 19 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISESx2, MARY POPPPINS, BILLY ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS each gross $1 million+ last week
3:55 pm July 19 - Shows grossing under $500,000 last week: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, NEXT TO NORMAL, LEND ME A TENOR, RACE
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 July 11, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending July 11, 2010:
3:07 pm July 12 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, FENCES, PROMISES PROMISES, BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS each have $1 million+ box office
3:08 pm July 12 - Sold-out WICKED was last week's top grosser by thin margin of just $16,000 over LION KING on Broadway
3:09 pm July 12 - WICKED grossed $1,650,562 on Broadway last week, playing to 100% capacity. Average ticket price: $114.05
3:10 pm July 12 - THE LION KING grossed $1,634,367 on Broadway last week, playing to 100.1% capacity. Average ticket price: $121.74
3:11 pm July 12 - Last week's highest capacity(101.5%) & av ticket price($134.20) belongs to FENCES, week's top grossing play: $1,175,626
3:12 pm July 12 - RACE last week's lowest grossing show $248,053.Av tix priced $65.94. Capacity just 44.4% Will closing notice be posted?
3:13 pm July 12 - COME FLY AWAY had last week's lowest capacity at just 40.4%. Grossing $488,217. Av tix price still sky high at $93.76
3:14 pm July 12 - Just closed EVERYDAY RAPTURE had week's lowest average ticket price of $51.44. Grossed $253,560 on 83.3% capacity
3:15 pm July 12 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE also posted week's biggest capacity gain of 10.1% to 83.3%. Grosses up $83,000 week over week
3:17 pm July 12 - Week's biggest capacity drop was LEND ME A TENOR losing 14.6% capacity to 59.4%. Grossed $333,346 last week.
3:18 pm July 12 - Tony-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS doing respectable box office. Grossed $890,626 last week playing to 88.9% capacity
3:19 pm July 12 - Overall, Broadway grosses up nearly $700,000 from last week to $19,380,905, yet audience was down .44% to 79.8%
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 July 4, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the summer holiday week ending July 4, 2010:
3:15 pm July 6 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, FENCES, BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS, PROMISES PROMISES each enjoy $1 million+ box office
3:16 pm July 6 - Sold-out WICKED still Broadway's top weekly grossing show: $1,620,851. Average ticket price: $112.00
3:17 pm July 6 - FENCES still Broadway's top grossing play taking in $1,164,529 last week, up $26,000 week over week
3:18 pm July 6 - FENCES is #1 Broadway show in terms of average ticket price: $132.65. Top tickets selling for $425.00
3:19 pm July 6 - FENCES, which ends Broadway run on Sunday, also has Broadway's highest capacity. Standing room only at 101.7%
3:20 pm July 6 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE had Broadway's lowest gross $171,942 & average ticket price $39.69. Capacity still at 73.2%
3:21 pm July 6 - COME FLY AWAY had Broadway's lowest capacity last week: 43% (drop of 11.6%). Gross: $515,296. Av tix priced: $93.01
3:22 pm July 6 - Just-closed NEXT FALL has week's biggest capacity increase of 25.5% to 90.1%. Grosses: $257,274. Av tix priced: $60.58
3:22 pm July 6 - IN THE HEIGHTS has Broadway's biggest capacity drop of 12.8% to 69.3%. Grossed $515,540. Average ticket price: $69.20
3:24 pm July 6 - Overall, Broadway's week over week grosses were down 9% or nearly $1.7 million to $18,840,132
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 June 27, 2010
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending June 27, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending June 27, 2010:
4:30 pm June 27 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISESx2, FENCES, JERSEY BOYS, BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS each have $1MM+ weeks
4:32 pm June 28 - WICKED remains #1 at Broadway box office grossing $1,641,718 last week. Average ticket price: $113.44. 100% capacity.
4:33 pm June 28 - LION KING last week's #2 show grossing $1,551,798 on Broadway playing to 100.1% capacity. Average ticket price: $115.59
4:34 pm June 28 - FENCES remains Broadway's top grossing play: $1,138,982.Also highest average ticket: $129.89 & highest capacity: 101.6%
4:35 pm June 28 - NEXT FALL had Broadway's lowest weekly gross: $180,317. Average ticket price: $59.24. Playing to 64.6% capacity.
4:36 pm June 28 - RACE has week's lowest capacity 46.6% & lowest average ticket price $51.95. Grosses $204,944 Will show close early?
4:37 pm June 28 - Just-closed HAIR goes off with bangs! Grosses $712,008 playing to 85.3% capacity up 15.2%. Highest over week over week
4:38 pm June 28 - FELA! has week's biggest capacity decrease of 4.1% to 88.2%. Grosses $588,286. Average tickets priced $80.99
4:39 pm June 28 - FELA! and RACE are only two Broadway shows last week to lose capacity. Overall, a very strong week at box office.
4:40 pm June 28 - Despite the critics, both ADDAMS FAMILY and PROMISES PROMISES are building audiences. Each earned $1.3 million+
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 my regular Steve On Broadway (SOB) readers, surely by now you know that the Broadway musical Wicked rates as the tuner the Love Of My Life (LOML) and I have adopted as "Our Show."
While some couples have their song, we have our musical. And we make no apologies for it whatsoever.
If you've ever wondered what a major international blockbuster this show has become, consider this -- worldwide, Wicked has grossed over $1.9 billion and it has entertained more than 24 million people, who have seen it in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Australia. Soon, it will also be seen in Finland and Denmark.
While the musical has that tagline, "So much happened before Dorothy dropped in," so much has happened with Wicked since I last wrote about the show late last year. Here's a rundown on Wicked's global reach, where it is currently playing and where it will be performing:
Wicked - Broadway Gershwin Theatre - New York, New York
After opening October 30, 2003, to mixed reviews, the original production of Wicked is still going strong.
Not only does it regularly rank as the top grossing Broadway show week after week, but after more than six and a half years, it's also one of those rare shows that still sells every single seat.
Tonight, it will have played its 2755th performance, and it ranks as the 18th longest running show in Broadway history. By year's end, it will eclipse Hello, Dolly! currently in 17th place.
From my own tally, my LOML and I have seen the show on Broadway at least six times, most recently about a year ago when I found the musical still in tiptop shape.
Wicked - San Francisco Orpheum Theatre - San Francisco, California
Once the Los Angeles sitdown production closed January 11, 2009, after 791 performances, the company moved up the coast to San Francisco, which was home to the initial Broadway tryout that opened June 10, 2003.
The San Francisco sitdown production opened February 6, 2009, and is currently slated to close on September 5, 2010, after playing a total of 672 regular performances.
While my LOML and I never saw the show in LA, we enjoyed a performance at San Francisco's Orpheum last September when Patty Duke was portraying Madame Morrible.
The two national touring companies of Wicked are still going strong, typically pulling into a major city (and many second-tier cities) for an entire month.
Currently, the tour schedule for two companies run through next summer in Omaha and Washington, DC.
To date, I've seen the touring companies perform four times: once in Chicago (not counting all the times I subsequently saw its sitdown production there), twice in Minneapolis and one more time in Des Moines.
While the touring company doesn't come with all the bells and whistles of the Broadway or other sitdown productions, the stagecraft ranks among the best I've ever seen in any touring show, and the casts are every bit as good as you'll find anywhere.
Wicked - London Apollo Victoria Theatre, London, United Kingdom
As the first international production Wicked to open, this production was voted "Most Popular Show" by audiences earlier this year in a special Olivier Award category.
The West End incarnation of Wicked opened September 27, 2006, and enjoyed its 1500th performance on April 23, 2010. The show is currently booking through April 30, 2011.
My LOML and I caught a performance in April 2007. Of all our Wicked experiences, this ranked as the weakest of the bunch. But I readily admit it could have just been an off-performance.
The first foreign-language version of Wicked opened June 17, 2007, at Tokyo's Shiki Theatre. The Japanese-language production closed September 6, 2009, before transferring to Osaka, where it opened October 11, 2009. The show is still playing.
At the close of 2007, my LOML and I journeyed to see the Tokyo production. If you've never seen an American musical in a different language, it's quite a unique experience. Fortunately, since we already knew the show backwards and forwards, we had little difficulty following it. Since that time, we've purchased the Japanese language cast recording, and it's a real hoot to listen to.
On November 15, 2007, the second non-English language production of Wicked opened.
This time, Wicked - Die Hexen von Oz (or "The Witches of Oz) was produced entirely in German at Stuttgart's Palladium Theater. After closing January 29, 2010, it transferred to Oberhausen's Metronom Theater, where it opened March 9 and is still performing.
For the first time in our Wicked experience, my LOML and I enjoyed front-row seats when taking in the Stuttgart production over Thanksgiving 2007. We thought this incarnation had some of the best talent we had ever seen in the show, and when the cast recording was issued that December, we couldn't resist in purchasing it immediately.
Wicked - Sydney Capitol Theatre - Sydney, Australia
Given Australians' penchant for calling their nation "Oz," it was inevitable that Wicked would find its way there.
On July 12, 2008, Wicked opened at Melbourne's Regent Theatre. As the musical's fourth international production, it played there through August 9, 2009, having enjoyed 464 performances.
On September 12, 2009, Wicked opened in Sydney, where it continues to play at the Capitol Theatre and breaking records as the venue's highest grossing musical. While the show is currently slated to close exactly one year after it opened (September 12, 2010), it will continue to live on Down Under. My LOML and I will see the production on the evening of August 18.
In January 2011, Wicked will transfer to Brisbane's Lyric Theatre, followed by an April 2011 opening at Adelaide's Festival Theatre.
Wicked - Helsinki Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri - Helsinki, Finland
On August 26, 2010, the first non-replicated production of Wicked premieres in Helsinki of all places.
Non-replicated essentially means it will be staged differently than the Broadway original with its own production and creative team. And it will be mounted in Finnish.
Currently, this production of Wicked is selling tickets through December 31, 2010.
Beginning in January 2011, the second non-replicated production of Wicked takes root, this time in Denmark. Currently, Wicked - Heksene Fra Oz is scheduled through May 2011. This production will be in Danish.
To date, my LOML and I have made over 20 visits to Wicked beginning with our first time at the Gershwin on November 1, 2003. Since then, we've seen the show in nine different venues in five different countries.
Where in the world will our fascination with Wicked take us next? Only the time dragon clock knows for sure.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 June 20, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
The week after the Tony Awards is always telling because it demonstrates which shows gained from the broadcast and which ones sadly did not.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending June 20, 2010:
4:30 pm June 20 - Broadway box office totals are up slightly over last week. Grosses $21,957,198
4:31 pm June 20 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISES PROMISES, FENCES, BILLY ELLIOT & JERSEY BOYS each gross $1 million+
4:32 pm June 20 - Sold-out WICKED week's top grossing show on Broadway pulling in $1,620,876. Average ticket price: $112.00
4:33 pm June 20 - FENCES continues breaking records at Broadway's Cort grossing $1,135,974 with average ticket now priced at $129.53
4:34 pm June 20 - As week's top grossing play FENCES also hits capacity home run as week's highest at 101.6%. Lots of standing room only
4:35 pm June 20 - Week's highest average ticket price: $130.50-A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC bid farewell to Catherine Zeta-Jones/Angela Lansbury
4:36 pm June 20 - Grossing $950,296, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC played to 97.8% capacity last week.
4:37 pm June 20 - NEXT FALL was week's lowest grossing Broadway show: $154,207. Average ticket price: $55.31 on 59.2% capacity
4:38 pm June 20 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE had week's lowest average ticket price on Broadway: $52.99. Grosses $213,249 on 68% capacity
4:39 pm June 20 - RACE had week's lowest capacity on Broadway: 47.6%. Grosses $253,436 with average tickets priced $62.97
4:40 pm June 20 - Tony Best Musical MEMPHIS enjoys box office bump: Grosses $835,071. Up over $135K week over week. Capacity at 86.5%
4:41 pm June 20 - Tony Best Musical Revival LA CAGE gets slight bump: $687,825 gross. Capacity up 3.5% to 86.5%. Av tix priced $94.02
4:42 pm June 20 - Tony Best Play RED capacity decreases to 98.9% but increases gross by nearly $130K to $666,618. Av tix priced $104.78
4:43 pm June 20 - PROMISES PROMISES gets biggest Tony bump as capacity increases 9% to 97.2%. Grosses $1,237,426. Av tix priced $91.06
4:45 pm June 20 - COME FLY AWAY has week's biggest drop in capacity down 13.2% to just 52.3%. Grosses $667,096. Av tix priced $99.02
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 Tony Edition - Week Ending June 13, 2010
Broadway Box Office Tweets Tony Edition - Week Ending June 13, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
This past week was a particularly good one for the Great White Way as box office totals swelled by just over $2 million more than the previous week, no doubt as audiences flocked to see all the Tony nominated shows prior to Sunday night's award ceremonies.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending June 13, 2010:
4:30 pm June 13 - WICKED/LION KING/ADDAMS FAMILY/BILLY ELLIOT/PROMISES PROMISES/JERSEY BOYS/FENCES each grossed $1 million+ last week
4:31 pm June 13 - Sold-out WICKED last week's top grossing Broadway show with $1,614,485. Average ticket price: $111.56
4:32 pm June 13 - Standing room only FENCES week's top grossing play $1,057,269 & week's highest capacity: 101.5%. Av tx priced $120.65
4:33 pm June 13 - A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC was week's highest priced ticket. Av price: $122.26. Grosses $911,429 on 100.1% capacity
4:34 pm June 13 - COLLECTED STORIES had last week's lowest gross: $117,408 & last week's lowest av tix priced: $30.55 (73.9% capacity)
4:35 pm June 13 - RACE had last week's lowest capacity of 59.1% grossing $358,328 & average tickets priced $71.64.
4:36 pm June 13 - AMERICAN IDIOT had biggest increase in capacity. Up 20.5% to 73.3%. Grosses w/av tix priced $86,66
4:37 pm June 13 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE & FENCES had week's "biggest" capacity drop of .1% & .2% respectively. Every other show gained
4:38 pm June 13 - WICKED stayed steady in 100% capacity week over week. They don't sell standing room only tickets
4:39 pm June 13 - Overall, Broadway box office was up 9.14% week over week. Grosses up more than $2 million to $21,958,013
6:14 pm June 13 - NEXT FALL producer Richard Willis hopes to keep show open through summer despite no Tony wins & low box office demand
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 June 6, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending June 6, 2010:
4:46 pm June 6 - WICKED, LION KING, PROMISES PROMISES, FENCES, BILLY ELLIOT each earned $1 million+ last week at Broadway box office
4:47 pm June 6 - JERSEY BOYS has fallen below $1 million gross for first time in years grossing just $963,853 playing to 88.6% capacity
4:48 pm June 6 - ADDAMS FAMILY was also among shows grossing more than $1 million last week, too: $1,278,089 with 94.4% capacity
4:49 pm June 6 - Sold-out WICKED continues reign as Broadway box office's highest grossing show: $1,570,925 with av tix priced $108.55
4:50 pm June 6 - FENCES trifecta: week's top grossing play $1,024,317, highest average ticket price: $116.72, highest capacity: 101.7%
4:51 pm June 6 - NEXT FALL week's lowest grossing show ($116,150) & average ticket price ($47.12). Played to just 52.3% capacity.
4:52 pm June 6 - Week's lowest capacity was at HAIR, attracting 46.5%. Grosses $351,992 with average ticket price of $67.01
4:54 pm June 6 - In a down box office week overall, BEHANDING IN SPOKANE increased capacity by 3.6% to 72.9%. Grosses $483,113
4:56 pm June 6 - Biggest decline in capacity was AMERICAN IDIOT, losing 21.9% audience to 52.8%. Grosses down sharply to $612,380
5:00 pm June 6 - Last week, only FENCES and WICKED sold out completely. LION KING came close at 98.8% capacity
5:02 pm June 6 - AMERICAN IDIOT, FELA!, MEMPHIS, MILLION $ QUARTET (all Tony Best Musical nominees) lost 10% or more of their audiences
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 May 31, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway. Because of the Memorial Day holiday, we had to wait until today to get our fix.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending May 31, 2010:
3:26 pm June 2 - Last week's Broadway box office was down 2.17% from last week. Total gross was $22,320,549. Average tix priced $80.51
3:27 pm June 2 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, BILLY ELLIOT,PROMISES PROMISES, JERSEY BOYS, FENCES each gross $1 million+ last week
3:28 pm June 2 - Sold-out WICKED Broadway's top grossing show last week pulling in $1,570,390. Average ticket priced $108.51
3:29 pm June 2 - With week's highest capacity (101.6%) FENCES gains momentum as top grossing play $1,002,741.Average tix priced $114.32
3:30 pm June 2 - A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC boasts last week's highest average ticket price of $115.52. Grosses $795,273 on 92.4% capacity
3:31 pm June 2 - COLLECTED STORIES had 2 of bottom 3.Lowest grossing show of week $134,885/lowest av tix priced $42.18. 61.5% capacity
3:32 pm June 2 - RACE had week's lowest capacity at just 48.7% down 4.3% from last week. Grossed $308,931. Average ticket price $74.89
3:34 pm June 2 - It must be tourist season, as PHANTOM OF THE OPERA had week's top capacity increase of 81.% to 94.3%. Grosses $923,158
3:37 pm June 2 - COME FLY AWAY had week's largest capacity drop: 11.7% to 57.4%.Grossed $713,653 with av tix priced $96.44
3:39 pm June 2 - ADDAMS FAMILY still strong with steady box office gross of $1,307,046. Average ticket price $112.52 w/ 95.6% capacity
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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 May 23, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending May 23, 2010:
4:40 pm May 23rd - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISES PROMISES, BILLY ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS all have million $ weeks on Broadway
4:41 pm May 23rd - Sold-out WICKED is once again Broadway's top grossing show last week with $1,576,010. Average ticket price is $108.90
4:43 pm May 23rd - FENCES once again Broadway's top grossing play w/$985,577. Also week's highest capacity: 101.7%. Av tix priced $112.30
4:44 pm May 23rd - Week's highest average ticket price: $115.67 for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Show grossed $751,745 on just 87.3% capacity
4:46 pm May 23rd - NEXT FALL was Broadway's lowest grossing show last week: $150,982. Capacity just 54.3%. Average ticket price: $59.05
4:47 pm May 23rd - HAIR had Broadway's lowest capacity last week: 51%. Grossed $407,172 with average ticket price of $70.71
4:49 pm May 23rdh - Broadway's cheapest ticket last week was COLLECTED STORIES' $45.79. Grossed only $156,680 on 65.8% capacity.
4:50 pm May 23rd - Snap! ADDAMS FAMILY gets last laugh as box office increases to $1,312,216 gross. Av tix priced $109.79/98.4% capacity
4:53 pm May 23rd - CHICAGO has Broadway's biggest capacity increase of week: 13.5% to 89%. Grosses $597,460. Average ticket price: $77.72
4:55 pm May 23rd - HAIR has Broadway's biggest capacity decline last week of 10% to 51%. But gross increases from $401,681 to $407,172
4:57 pm May 23rd - With several weak weeks in a row, could HAIR be showing danger signs exhibited by most Broadway fare before they announce closings?
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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!
Wicked
Wicked
Wicked
Wicked
Wicked
