Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 5/14/23

[Rob]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:14pm

Click below to access all the Broadway grosses from all the shows for the week ending 5/14/2023 in BroadwayWorld's grosses section.

Also, you will find information on each show's historical grosses, cumulative grosses and other statistics on how each show stacked up this week and in the past.

Click Here to Visit the Broadway Grosses...

Up for the week by attendance (% of capacity) was: BOB FOSSE'S DANCIN' (19.9%), FUNNY GIRL (13.7%), BAD CINDERELLA (9.5%), SOME LIKE IT HOT (8.3%), CAMELOT (6.6%), SIX (5.9%), SHUCKED (5.8%), PARADE (4.6%), THE BOOK OF MORMON (4.2%), THE LION KING (2.9%), SUMMER, 1976 (2.5%), KIMBERLY AKIMBO (2.3%), HADESTOWN (2%), LIFE OF PI (1.8%), PRIMA FACIE (1.3%), NEW YORK, NEW YORK (0.9%), A DOLL'S HOUSE (0.4%), WICKED (0.4%),

Down for the week by attendance (% of capacity) was: PETER PAN GOES WRONG (-14.4%), THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN'S WINDOW (-8.6%), A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL (-5.5%), GREY HOUSE (-5.2%), HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD (-4.3%), GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR (-3.3%), HAMILTON (-2.7%), LEOPOLDSTADT (-2.7%), ALADDIN (-2.5%), CHICAGO (-1.9%), SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (-1.6%), FAT HAM (-1.3%), MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL (-1.1%), & JULIET (-0.6%), MJ THE MUSICAL (-0.6%), THE THANKSGIVING PLAY (-0.5%),

Click Here to Visit the BroadwayWorld Grosses...

[noahseestheatre]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:25pm

Happy to see Shucked get a needed boost, as well as some other shows that are in the margins, like Leopoldstadt, KA, and a nice send-off for Dancin'. I know this is the beginning of tourist season (I saw as a tourist fresh off my 10-show trip to NYC), but these numbers are pretty good.

Two acclaimed revivals netting $1M a week is a great thing too. Would love to see Prima Facie cross $1M as well...

Updated On: 5/16/23 at 02:25 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:27pm

Another great Tony nom bump for SOME LIKE IT, and solid ones for SHUCKED, PARADE, and KIMBERLY.

Nice start for ONCE UPON. GREY HOUSE's weak start underlines what we knew already: Laurie Metcalf is not a box office draw.

CURSED CHILD is hovering dangerously close to their nut. Wonder how much longer that show has...it has surprised us at every turn.

2nd Stage's advertising strategy (lack thereof) continues to stupify.

A solid conclusion for DANCIN, a show that deserved more from its audience. Hearing rumblings of a tour and international productions in the works, and they will finally be able to license the show to regionals (something that could never be done with the prior version).

[Lumiere2]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:28pm

There's lots of good news in these numbers for some of the new musicals this week, like Kimberly Akimbo, Some Like it Hot, and Shucked (ESPECIALLY Shucked.)

There's a notable rise in their capacity, number of tickets sold, average ticket price and total gross this week. On all those numbers, Shucked is up between 7-13% on all of them just this week. That's great for all of them.

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:28pm

Good start for Once upon a one more time! It grossed half the number 'Bad Cinderella' did with just 1 preview 

 

 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:31pm

Happy to see Some Like it Hot and Kimberly Akimbo doing well. I'm glad the Tonys are back on and they will get the much-needed boost to stay open!

[BETTY22]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:38pm

Lots of great news.

Happy to see Shucked and Some Like It Hot find its audience.

&Juliet, New York and Beautiful Noise continue to do well. 

I thought NPH would see more tickets in Peter Pan. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:39pm

Some nice little bumps this week, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here. 

[hache2]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:41pm

Nice boost for SLIH and looks like Shucked may be finally gaining some traction. Shucked is probably at least close to covering their weekly nut.

Curious as to how Hadestown does over the next few weeks and into the summer. I assume the recent drop is from a still somewhat limited audience pool preferentially going to the newer and/or Tony nominated shows. 

Updated On: 5/16/23 at 02:41 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:46pm

BETTY22 said:

"I thought NPH would see more tickets in Peter Pan."

His run ended on May 7.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 2:53pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Some nice little bumps this week, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here."

 

Sure whatever you say, Droopy Dawg

 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 3:01pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "GREY HOUSE's weak start underlines what we knew already: Laurie Metcalf is not a box office draw."

Seems strange to focus solely on Metcalf when there are lots of other reasons for Grey House's current performance. 

Based on receipts for her previous Broadway outings, I think she is a limited draw in certain roles and plays.  This would not be one I would expect to be among them.

 

[noahseestheatre]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 3:08pm

While I'm sure Metcalf's casting did not hurt GREY HOUSE, what got me to see it was the horror element they played up in their marketing. I wouldn't say, based on their ads, that they are trying to sell on Metcalf's name, as many so-called stunt casting processes do.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 3:21pm

I feel bad for BAD CINDERELLA. Even with the closing announcement they had a lower gross than the week before. I hope it lasts until June 4th.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 3:48pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Some nice little bumps this week, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here."

Are you telling me you now DON'T think that Shucked, SLIH, Kimberly, NYNY and Life of Pi are all closing in the next 2-3 weeks?

[bdn223]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 4:28pm

Mr. Wormwood said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Some nice little bumps this week, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here."

Are you telling me you now DON'T think that Shucked, SLIH, Kimberly, NYNY and Life of Pi are all closing in the next 2-3 weeks?"

Out of those Kimberly Akimbo and Life of Pi are still loosing money. Although Kimberly Akimbo is not hemorrhaging money it definitely needs the Tony Awards to increase its profile to turn things around. Weirdly enough these are numbers I would of expected for Kimberly Akimbo the dead of winter, but somehow it managed to make money then and is loosing money now. 

[B212323]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 4:46pm

They were on the Today show Christmas week - the others just appeared a couple of weeks ago. Since no one can do late night appearances right now, morning shows are the best bet for national exposure til the Tonys. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 5:11pm

Will be curious to see how a string of "loud" musicals starting in the next few weeks impacts some of these smaller shows

i.e Here Lies Love/Back To The Future/Once Upon A One More Time

also for whatever reason Kimberly Akimbo is HEAVILY papering this weekend into end of next week 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 5/16/23 at 5:25pm

bdn223 said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Some nice little bumps this week, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here."

Are you telling me you now DON'T think that Shucked, SLIH, Kimberly, NYNY and Life of Pi are all closing in the next 2-3 weeks?"

Out of those Kimberly Akimbo and Life of Pi are still loosing money. AlthoughKimberly Akimbois not hemorrhaging money it definitely needs the Tony Awards to increase its profile to turn things around. Weirdly enough these are numbers I would of expected for Kimberly Akimbo the dead of winter, but somehow it managed to make money then and is loosing money now."

I know, I was being sarcastic because they said in another thread that they predicted all five of those shows would close within 2-3 weeks. Yes, I agree that KA needs that Best Musical win big time. I do think Life of Pi might struggle to make it through the summer.

With regards to KA, I think the reason it was doing better in the winter is it was picking up the local crowd as a new title. Now it needs that Best Musical win to get a broader audience. If it doesn't get that win, it's probably tapped out. 

[Show Me]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 10:23am

Sweeney Todd broke the Lunt-Fontanne house record. Amazing for a 7 performance week, and Groban missing a performance. It seems to be taking on a life of its own.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 10:58am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Some nice little bumps this week, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here."

Dude, why are you such a Debbie Downer all the time? You've been like this since the beginning of the pandemic, and I honestly think literally everyone on the boards finds it incredibly annoying.

I'm not being rhetorical here, either. Like, I'm genuinely curious. Updated On: 5/17/23 at 10:58 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 11:06am

Metcalf is above the title on all advertising. Plays don’t sell on their own, with extremely rare exceptions, so the blame has to fall on her and Maslany. (nobody should be expecting Paul Sparks to be a draw)

DOLL’S HOUSE 2 did not sell until it got “must see” reviews, and THREE TALL was largely sold on Glenda Jackson’s return to Bway + reviews.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 11:36am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Metcalf is above the title on all advertising. Plays don’t sell on their own, with extremely rare exceptions, so the blame has to fall on her and Maslany. (nobody should be expecting Paul Sparks to be a draw)

DOLL’S HOUSE 2 did not sell until it got “must see” reviews, and THREE TALL was largely sold on Glenda Jackson’s return to Bway + reviews."

The biggest name stars don't pull in audiences for material if it doesn't interest people.  We've seen that time and time again, particularly with plays.  I generally see anything Metcalf and Mantello are involved in, but enough of the posts here have me uncertain about seeing Grey House. 

While some on BWW expressed excitement for a horror play (or horror adjacent based on some accounts here), it also is quite possible that the genre isn't a hook for the masses at this time.  So if any "blame" is to be assigned it potentially could go to both the material and the performers, but we don't really know without someone researching it.

 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 5/17/23 at 11:21pm

I wonder if the Tonys (and other award) nominations helped in some way to "legitimize" Shucked.  Early on their marketing was very meme-driven and really doubled down on its status as a "corn musical", which probably brought in a certain group of people, but I wonder how many other people didn't take it seriously or thought of it as a throwaway parody show.  Glad to see it starting to gain traction now at any rate.

As for Grey House, I think its status as a horror play could hurt it.  There are a lot of people who are really excited about the genre, but anecdotally, I know a lot more people who are apprehensive when they hear the word "horror", whether it's because they can't handle jump scares or they just don't like the genre (someone I know categorically refused to see it because she hates the trope of creepy girls).  One of my friends who went to see it with me was on the fence for a long time because it was early in previews and we just didn't know exactly how scary it was.  Another friend (who's not a big theatergoer) was legitimately confused about how horror on stage would work.  I feel like they might be able to draw in more people it they framed it more as a mystery/thriller.

[Mr.Liir]

Posted: 5/18/23 at 10:55am

Regarding Shucked specifically: I think that's an interesting point regarding the "legitimacy" of the show. While I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea, it's been gaining solid momentum from day 1. I know grosses have been lower but it's because they've sold lower-priced tickets, which was part of their strategy and budgeting. They knew and were prepared for the shortfall in funds to get people in the door. They've made the show accessible to more people than normal to build word of mouth and legitimize raising prices in the future.

I don't know why people keep counting it out or talking about the show like it's closing next week. I work in the theater and it's almost full every show. I know a lot of tickets sell at TKTS, etc., but that's how it is right now for almost every other show on Broadway. I got a ticket yesterday for Fat Ham and I swear 80% of Broadway (and off) was on the list. Audiences really seem to love it and are returning with their friends, and their friends return with friends, and we are getting a lot of out of town people who have seen marketing for the show LOCALLY where they are from. That means Shucked is marketing outside of NYC so, by the time tourists land here, they already know about and are excited for the show. Especially from the South/Midwest.  Everyone involved seems really excited and there is zero sense of the doom and gloom inside the theater every day that you read on these message boards. And it doesn't seem to be an act of putting on a brave face or ignoring the reality of the situation (kind of like Bad Cinderella seemed to be doing for a while). 

I actually think, of the new shows, Shucked needed the Tonys the least. They've already lost out on the same marketing everyone else has in regard to late night and early morning shows and other media appearances that aren't happening because of the strike, but they're thinking out of the box and doing things like getting Alex on The Voice. Also, word of mouth is affecting this show a lot, and I don't think they expect to sweep the Tonys or anything else. They aren't banking being open on the Tonys and they aren't planning on the future by hinging it on how many awards they win (at least it doesn't seem like it).  I don't think this show can be counted out yet, and it's not struggling in the enthusiasm department the way that KA or even SLIH is. Granted, it's much newer, but the enthusiasm and appetite for the show is there, and the grosses do not tell the entire story. That said, I'm glad the numbers are picking up (mostly due to higher priced tickets).

Updated On: 5/18/23 at 10:55 AM