Broadway Grosses: Ending the Year with a Bang

Broadway ended 2005 on a high note. The week ending January 1, 2006 was the highest grossing week in Broadway history, bringing in $25.2 million in gross sales. Shows weren't just bringing in big money; they also brought in huge numbers in terms of paying audience members. The last week of the year saw shows filled to an average capacity of 93.9%--a 14.3% gain from the same week last year. Audience favorites such as Wicked, The Lion King and Spamalot grossed over $1,400,000 last week. Twenty shows were at an average of 90% or more. Here's to more good news in 2006!

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending January 1:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,610,934
2. The Lion King $1,455,498
3. Spamalot $1,407,586*
4. The Color Purple $1,394,446*
5. Mamma Mia! $1,381,822*

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life $381,836**
4. A Touch of the Poet $295,592**
3. Seascape $162,434
2. Souvenir $149,965
1. Latinologues $139,812

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Rent 104.28%*
2. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 103.65%
3. Mamma Mia! 101.93%*
4. Spamalot 101.90%*
5. The Phantom of the Opera 101.65% *

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. The Woman in White 76.99%*
4. Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life 76.19%**
3. Latinologues 71.54%
2. Souvenir 58.64%
1. Seascape 57.07%

*Number based on nine performances
**Number based on seven performances

Data provided by The League of American Theatres and Producers