A Lot of Empty Theatres!!!!!! — Page 2

Awake and Sing was a revilation to say the least. Yes, the set was terrible for the show but the performances were amazing! The fact that people look beyond the inappropraiet set and focus on the book an be attributed to that fact!

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Updated On: 5/31/06 at 09:55 PM

Today's headline in Variety was boffo, record-shattering year for Broadway.

"Broadway's back in a big way.
Fueled by holdover hits and a terrific selection of new shows, the 2005-06 season grossed a record $861.6 million, up 12% from the previous season.

Paid attendance broke the 12 million barrier for the first time, hitting 12,003,148 ticket buyers.

Top earners were "Wicked," with $68.1 million; "The Lion King," at $59.3 million; "Monty Python's Spamalot," $53.6 million; "Mamma Mia!" with $48.9 million; and "The Producers" with $40.2 million.

Of the new shows this season, biggest hits were "Jersey Boys," "The Color Purple" and "The Odd Couple."

The percentage of seats filled also hit an all-time record: 81.6%. The number of playing weeks -- sum total of the number of weeks played by each show -- was 1,501, up from 1,494 the prior season but not quite as high as the 2002-03 season, when playing weeks rose to 1,544.

Year-end figures for the season -- the 52-week period ended May 28 -- were released Wednesday by the League of American Theaters & Producers."

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