"If Darren fans, a majority of whom were in college, paid higher prices, why can't Taye fans, who skew older? "
I don't understand it either. I never expected Darren's fans to heavily rely on tkts tickets although some friends of mine have, they bought like 3 or so regular priced orchestra seats throughout Darren's run but they also used lotto a lot or went to the tkts booth.
The only explanation I have for myself right now is that Darren's fans bought more regular priced tickets in advance but therefore his same day sales were weaker. In turn Taye's fans don't seem to be as willing or able to pay for advance sales as Darren's but then more people seem to decide on the day of to go see Taye and then go to the tkts booths instead.
If that is the "problem" here then lowering the tkts discount could help a little at least.
Taye's gross potential is lower than for all the other Hedwigs but that can't be the only reason for that low average ticket price.