Broadway Grosses: Will Bombay Get a Boost?

Bombay Dreams gets a little star power this week as American Idol first season finalist Tamyra Gray steps into the lead female role of Priya. And the show could definitely use a lift--for the last two weeks the big budget musical has been filling the Broadway Theatre to under 50% capacity, last week coming in at 49.74% on average. It's box office tally for the week ending November 7 was $399,192, a figure that places it below the majority of musicals on the Great White Way in terms of gross. Gray is joining the cast of Bombay Dreams for twelve weeks and producers are clearly hoping she'll encourage many new theatergoers to say "Salaa'm Bombay."

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending November 7:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,196,658
2. The Lion King $1,104,279
3. Mamma Mia! $916,862
4. The Producers $844,672
5. Hairspray $742,894

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Laugh Whore $157,216
4. Forever Tango $118,188
3. Whoopi $103,879*
2. The Good Body $100,565**
1. Golda's Balcony $82,652

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Wicked 100%
2. Mamma Mia! 98.51%
3. Avenue Q 97.79%
4. The Lion King 95.82%
5. Reckless 93.44%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. Bombay Dreams 49.74%
4. 'night, Mother 42.86%***
3. Golda's Balcony 43.63%
2. The Good Body 39.22%**
1. Forever Tango 18.00%

*Number based on four preview performances.
**Number based on eight preview performances.
***Number based on seven preview performances.

Data provided by The League of American Theatres and Producers.