Broadway Grosses: Disney & School of Rock Shatter Records; 18 Shows Surpass $1 Million Over Warm Holiday Week
The holiday week brought plenty of cheer to the Great White Way, as several shows celebrated personal bests and box office records. The Lion King claimed the top spot on the charts, breaking the Minskoff Theatre's eight-show record for the 25th time since moving there in 2006. Another Disney musical, Aladdin, broke the house record at the New Amsterdam Theatre, surpassing even the nine-performance best week it played earlier this summer. Meanwhile, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock ended 2015 with a (head)bang, playing to 101.8% capacity and breaking the Winter Garden Theatre’s box office record. By bringing in $1,506,236 over eight performances, it claimed the landmark previously held by Mamma Mia!; the ABBA tuner grossed nearly $1.48 million in the final week of 2006. A total of 18 shows reached seven figures over Christmas; only one (The Illusionists) played more than the standard eight performances. Expect numbers to remain in the rafters for one more week as crowds flock to the Big Apple for New Year’s, then be on the lookout for a winter-induced plunge during the Main Stem’s tough months.
Here’s a look at who was on top—and who was not—for the week ending December 27:
FRONTRUNNERS (By Gross)
1. The Lion King ($2,588,075)
2. Wicked ($2,400,920)
3. Aladdin ($2,095,364)
4. The Book of Mormon ($1,891,356)
5. Hamilton ($1,844,837)
UNDERDOGS (By Gross)
5. Hand to God ($288,113)
4. Noises Off ($285,682)*
3. Sylvia ($271,395)***
2. The Gin Game ($250,914)
1. Dames at Sea ($123,725)***
FRONTRUNNERS (By Capacity)
1. The Book of Mormon (102.57%)
2. School of Rock (101.80%)
3. Hamilton (101.69%)
4. The Lion King (100.01%)
5. Aladdin (99.25%)
UNDERDOGS (By Capacity)
5. Hand to God (63.42%)
4. Thérèse Raquin (58.95%)***
3. Misery (58.78%)***
2. Dames at Sea (57.49%)***
1. Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games (45.02%)**
* Number based on seven preview performances
** Number based on nine regular performances
*** Number based on seven regular performances
Source: The Broadway League