Variety reports that this year's Broadway tourism brought a cumulative $878.4 million worth of holiday cheer last week - and marked a new box office record.
The total was tallied after the week ending December 24th, and is expected to surpass $900 million after this weekend. The sum beats last year's record box office total, as well. "If the holiday week between Christmas and New Year's proves as boffo as last year's -- when the frame's take topped $25 million -- then 2006 receipts will finish well ahead of the $825 million that, according to stats from the League of American Theaters & Producers, Broadway grossed in 2005," states the industry paper.
Attendance for 2006 is projected to be slightly below that of 2005. The final total likely will be just below 12 million. The disparity between higher grosses but a lower attendance is attributed to raised ticket prices and a demand for premium-priced seats at hot-ticket shows.
For the week ending December 24th,
Wicked ($71.3 million),
The Lion King ($55.9 million),
Jersey Boys ($53.9 million),
The Color Purple ($51.4 million) and
Spamalot ($49.7 million) were the top yearly sellers. The holiday engagement musica
l Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, however, has topped
Wicked's weekly grosses a few times.
The fall half (beginning May 29th) of the 2006-2007 season was also one of bustling box offices, with an approximated $520 million surpassing its $475 2005-2006 season counterpart.
