Broadway Box Office Has Finally Recovered, Overtaking Pre-Pandemic Returns for First Time
Last week, Broadway grosses for the season-to-date surpassed 2018-2019's record season-to-date box office for the first time.
Total industry box office hit $1.8 billion for the season, propelled by hits such as Good Night, and Good Luck, starring George Clooney, which was last week's highest earner, with $3.8 million, followed by Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, with $3.2 million and Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr, with $2.4 million.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Cynthia Erivo to Star in One-Woman Version of 'Dracula' in London
Tom Francis Is Ready to Flex His Muscles for Hollywood
Nicole Scherzinger on How Her "Pop Star Mentality" Prepared Her for 'Sunset Blvd.,' "Manifesting" a Film Adaptation and First Tony Nom
Good Night, and Good Luck and Glengarry Glen Ross both announced that they had recouped their capitalizations, with Glengarry Glen Ross breaking the Palace Theatre box office record with a gross of $2.4 million.
Some shows also appeared to get a boost from the Tony nominations, including Death Becomes Her, which saw its grosses shoot up close to $270,000 from the prior week to $1.3 million, Buena Vista Social Club, which saw a close to $90,000 gain to $1.2 million, Maybe Happy Ending, which shot up close to $100,000 to $1 million. All three tied for having the most Tony nominations.
Among the plays, Purpose, which is Tony nominated and was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, saw its grosses increase by about $100,000 to $522,691 last week, and the Tony-nominated play John Proctor is The Villain, starring Sadie Sink, also increased close to $100,000 to $596,511.
The milestone of surpassing the 2018-2019 season is significant as that season is the highest on record for Broadway grosses and attendance and has been viewed as a benchmark to measure post-pandemic recovery. At this point in the 2018-2019 season, Broadway had brought in $1.79 million.
However, Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League noted that the numbers are driven by a few productions – namely the recent celebrity-driven titles, with high ticket prices – and that otherwise the economics of Broadway are making it harder for productions to survive. Othello commanded the highest average ticket price on Broadway last week at $387.
'Broadway audiences are responding to the remarkable and diverse slate of productions this season. These grosses and attendance numbers are a testament to, and a reflection of, the efforts of every person working both on stage and off to turn the dream of each show into a reality,' Laks said in a statement.
'While we celebrate this milestone, we also need to be clear-eyed about where this industry stands today. Among other factors, these record grosses have been buoyed by the tremendous success of a few specific productions this season, without which we would still trail our pre-pandemic numbers. While we are, of course, thrilled by their successes, we also have to look at our industry as a whole,' the statement reads.
'Every show, no matter how acclaimed, is grappling with rising costs across every facet of production. Shows have an ever-shorter window to get on their feet, find an audience, and determine their future. This is a major challenge shows face as they seek out investors, without which a production will never make it to the stage,' Laks said.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started
Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023
Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
George Clooney Reveals Why He Hates His Good Night, And Good Luck Hairstyle
George Clooney was ready to roast himself over his hair while stopping by Late Night With Seth Meyers on Monday. Admitting the deep brunette dye job he got for his role in Good Night, and Good Luck was not his best look, the Tony-nominated actor told Meyers, 'It's bad. It's still dark on top, but it's gray at the bottom. So you get that really nice-looking grow-out of gray.' Clooney, who said he was purposefully hiding under a baseball cap, said he was relieved he'll finally be able to get rid of the tint when he wraps his critically acclaimed Broadway show on Sunday afternoon, right before the Tony Awards. Though Meyers told the ER star that his locks look 'great onstage,' he joked that 'offstage, it looks like you are trying to get away with something.' 'It really looks bad. It looks like you're going through some horrible midlife crisis,' Clooney agreed, then smirking as he added, 'I'm 64 ... midlife is a little stretch.' Trying to find an upside, the leading man said wife Amal Clooney does find his temporary hairstyle 'funny' but will 'be glad when it's gone.' While talking to the New York Times in March, the normally salt-and-pepper-coiffed star laughed about how 'nothing makes you look older than when an older guy dyes his hair.' But Clooney thought the transformation was necessary to play real-life journalist Edward R. Murrow, whose Cold War-era clash with Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy is the centerpiece of Good Night, and Good Luck.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Donald and Melania Trump to attend Kennedy Center's opening night of Les Misérables
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are set to attend the opening-night showing of the musical Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center next week, making a rare public appearance in Washington's nightlife by visiting the cultural institution Trump controversially took over. The White House confirmed the first couple's attendance to USA TODAY. But they won't be seeing all of the musical's cast members, some of whom plan to sit out of the show that night, CNN and the Washington Post reported. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance will also attend the same showing of Les Misérables, Fox News reported. The musical debuts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 11 and runs through July 13. "I love the songs, I love the play," Trump told Fox News on June 3 after The Atlantic first reported on the plans to attend Les Misérables. "I think it's great ‒ we may extend it." Les Misérables, set in early 19th-century France, tells the story of French peasant Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who struggles to find redemption after 19 years in prison. Trump is known to have "Do you hear the people sing? ‒ one of the musical's most famous songs about everyday people rising up against injustices ‒ playing as he enters for campaign rallies. For JD Vance, his attendance at the Kennedy Center comes after he was loudly booed and jeered while attending a National Symphony Orchestra performance at the center in March. Just weeks into his second White House term, Trump ousted the Kennedy Center's leadership in February and named himself board chairman after complaining about "woke" programming and "drag shows" at the center. He named top ally Ric Grenell, his envoy for special missions, as the Kennedy Center's new president. But Trump's takeover has sparked a significant backlash. Acts such as actress Issa Rae and the Broadway hit "Hamilton" canceled previously scheduled Kennedy Center performances in response to Trump's takeover. And the center has experienced a nosedive in yearly subscriptions. The Washington Post reported sales of subscriptions for the next season of programming at the Kenny Center have plummeted by 36%, down about $1.6 million in revenue from subscription sales to theater, dance, classical and other seasons of performance from the same point in 2014. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Cash-rich retailers are scrapping for a slice of NYC's best avenues
Is everything finally coming up roses for city stores? Maybe. Retail leasing velocity across the city is up 14%, year over year. That represents over 3.5 million square feet of new leases and renewals — and according to CBRE, the number of available storefronts on the main shopping streets has dropped. That's good news for shoppers — but a tough break for stores that want the better locations. It's a situation that parallels Manhattan's divided office market, said Lee Block of Winick Realty Group. Retailers want better spaces and are willing to pay top dollar for them. 5 Meow Wolf nabbed over 74,000 square feet at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. Keeyahtay Lewis 'The flight to quality has been a big theme in the office world, and it also works in the retail world,' said Block, referring to the demand for luxury offices that is spilling over to some Class B buildings but leaving most C owners in the lurch while spurring residential conversions. Adding to the competition are new to NYC retailers, who inked 24 deals that gobbled up 205,000 square feet just in the first quarter, according to CBRE. For instance, the immersive art experience, Meow Wolf, leased over 74,000 square feet at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport for its first NYC location. And Seaview Productions, the group behind George Clooney's 'Good Night and Good Luck,' leased the vacant 16,679-square-foot former Second Stage theater at 681 Eighth Ave. near Times Square. 5 Times Square had always been a nest for major league retailers like Sephora. Tamara Beckwith If fact, Times Square has always been a target for large retailers, with shops like Sephora open until 11 p.m. to service late-day, pre- and après-Broadway show crowds. 'It's the busiest place,' declared Gene Spiegelman of Ripco. At the end of last year, Lincoln Market signed to bring its supermarket to a 35,809-square-foot space left by Lucky Strike bowling at Silverstein Properties' River Place at 650 W. 42nd St. Nevertheless, Times Square still has massive holes, such as the 91,000 square feet that Forever 21 will give up at Vornado's 1540 Broadway and 58,000 square feet ABC is leaving at 1500 Broadway. 5 Forever isn't forever in Times Square. Reuters Another sign of life comes from the Manhattan's ultra-competitive restauranteurs who ate up 171,000 square feet in 39 Manhattan deals. Among them is Michelin chef Masaharu Morimoto who will occupy 17,600 square feet at 1255 Broadway in Nomad. Chicago's Michelin steakhouse Maple & Ash leased nearly 17,000 square feet at Vornado's 1290 Ave. of the Americas and STK will open in 12,600 square feet at 200 Park Ave. South. Old Navy is giving up 150 W. 34th St. to Primark so it can move to 55,000 square feet on corner of Herald Square at 50 W. 34th St. Looking further downtown, vacancies along Broadway in Soho are nearly extinct. 5 Chef Masaharu Morimoto will occupy 17,600 square feet at 1255 Broadway. Google Earth Crocs leased a new flagship at 543 Broadway, and New Balance will hop into 542 Broadway. Calvin Klein signed to open a flagship at 530 Broadway and GU opened at 668-678 Broadway. The Chinese-based, fast-fashion brand Urban Revivo opened its first US store in 30,000 square feet at 515 Broadway. 'Global brands stiltl consider New York the launch pad for expanding their businesses,' said Spiegelman who represented Urban Revivo. 'The top of their list is Soho.' Adidas will relocate its flagship from 115 Spring to 8,700 square feet at 135 Spring. Ray-Ban renewed its 7,000 square feet at 116 Wooster and is building out a new global flagship at 62 Prince. Additionally, 7 For All Mankind's denims renewed 5,500 square feet at 392 W. Broadway. 5 Soho is fast becoming the premier place to shop in Manhattan. Getty Images As higher-priced space was leased, rents on prime Prince Street dropped to $750 per foot, down 24% quarter-over-quarter and 30% year-over-year, according to CBRE. The competition for the best Soho spaces is now so fierce that even the biggest fish are being out bid. For instance, LVMH is hunting for a corner location for Tiffany & Co. (now at 97 Green St.) — but it's already lost out on spaces like the new Ferrari former Nespresso space location at 92 Prince St. which may have leased for $1,800 per foot, the Apple location at 103 Prince and Ralph Lauren's digs at 109 Prince which the retailer just bought for $132 million. 'Everyone is keenly aware and the uncertainty is having an impact.' Matthew Siegel of Lantern Real Estate 'It's hard to find space on Prince, Greene or Spring — you almost have to pay key money,' said Richard Hodos of JLL. Like Ralph Lauren, some stores are tired of playing games. They're simply buying their space outright. To capitalize on the frenzy of both investors and retailers trying to lock in prime locations, CBRE is offering 115 Spring for sale on behalf of SL Green as the 5,100-square-foot, two-level store will be vacant when Adidas relocates to 135 Spring next March. Uptown, Chanel is in talks to buy 60,000 square feet in the base of Gary Barnett's upcoming luxury residential tower at 655 Madison Ave., according to the Commercial Observer and, if that goes sideways, could turn to Related tower on the next block at 625 Madison or return to its first choice of the former Barney's at 660 Madison should the families that own the building realign their future goals. Meanwhile, B&H Photo paid $150 million to buy 333 W. 34th St. Even so, stock market gyrations over global tariffs are still top of everyone's minds. 'We are seeing our clients preparing for the impact and implications of the tariffs on both consumer behavior and input costs,' said Matthew Siegel of Lantern Real Estate. 'Everyone is keenly aware and the uncertainty is having an impact.'
