Broadway Summer Box Office

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Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/21/04 at 3:17pm

I believe that traditionally the winter months are the 'slow' months for Broadway shows, but I was wondering if the summer months are similar. During the July/August period, is Broadway a real tourist attraction? Winter brings nasty weather which can cause people to stay away from the theatre, but does the summer heat cause people to stay away as well?

I would appreciate any thoughts on this. I am trying to decide on a last minute theatre weekend in NYC and want to know how business typically is during the above-mentioned period of time. Thanks

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/21/04 at 3:18pm

I always thought winter was a good time for B'way and the summer months were slow...

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/21/04 at 3:21pm

i would think summer would be more busy since the tony awards i think would attract some people to the shows that performed and won tony's but maybe not..i dont really know

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/21/04 at 3:25pm

i would think that the january-march months were slow because of the weather. The holidays usually bring more people into the city and therefore bring more people into the theatre. The summer always seem crowded when im in town. Normally for summer break i guess.

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/21/04 at 3:59pm

January through March is a wasteland for Broadway -- lots of shows close right after New Years for fear not being able to make through the winter doldrums in business, and nearly all of those that decide to carry on struggle to one extent or another (it's a great time for those of us in the city to see the big soldout hits if we haven't already, because not only are tickets available -- they're typically heavily discounted). Fear of snow is usually to blame -- folks in the suburbs are scared to buy tickets too far in advance in case there's a blizzard or something.

While there are lots of tourists in town during summer, there is a bit of a drop off in business after 4th of July (folks are generally headed out to the beach and the shore, not in to the city).

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

Updated On: 6/21/04 at 03:59 PM

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/21/04 at 4:00pm

"(folks are generally headed out too the beach and the shore, not in to the city)"

Yeah....that's what I thought.

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/23/04 at 11:28am

Thank you everyone for the responses. I have decided to take my folks to Toronto for the weekend instead. Interested in seeing Hairspray and Mamma Mia there.
If anyone cares, I will report upon my return on 7/18.

Thanks again

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/23/04 at 11:30am

Yea, I would not agree that winter is slow for Broadway. We travel up to New York several times a year. And we found that winter is one of the hardest times to get tickets. I don't really think theres a "down time".

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/23/04 at 11:55am

I am looking forward to your comments on the Torornto production of Hairspray!

#10

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/23/04 at 12:01pm

This isn't an opinion, it's a FACT -- business is always down January through March -- check the Variety box office numbers if you don't believe me. The only sold out show during that time earlier this year was the Producers and that was because of Nathan and Matthew being back in it. Even Lion King, Mamma Mia and Hairspray which were completely sold out only a couple of months before (and went back to being sold out a month or so later) were posting attendance figures in the 70's and 80's for several weeks in January and February. If you only come up on weekends perhaps you wouldn't notice the difference, because Friday and Saturdays still sell well -- but, there are seas of empty seats Tuesdays through Thursdays at even the biggest hits during that time of the year.

I remember catching Hairspray again on a Tuesday night in February -- I got an eighth row seat in the orchestra with a discount offer. I looked up and there were ROWS of empty seats in the mezzanine. That was typical and it's always been that way. I have lots of friends who wait until January and February every year to catch up on their Broadway -- we love hearing snow in the forecast because that automatically means there will be tons of empty seats at every show in town. Winter has always been the best time of the year for us local theatregoers.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#11

re: Broadway Summer Box Office

Posted: 6/24/04 at 9:01am

Nagrom, yes, I'd love to hear your opinion of Toronto's productions of Hairspray and Mamma Mia. I've seen both (Mamma Mia many times) and they are great. Both have an excellent cast and are top notch productions. You and your family should enjoy. If you've seen broadway's versions, I'd also love to hear how they compare.

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