Broadway Grosses: First Show of Fall, Heartbreak House, Begins Previews

The fall season got underway last week with the arrival of the first play, George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House, starring Tony Award winners Philip Bosco and Swoosie Kurtz. The Roundabout Theatre Company's revival, in previews at its Broadway home, the American Airlines Theatre, got off to a good start, playing to 87.38% capacity in its first weekend. The only other play currently running on Broadway, The History Boys, continued its winning ways, playing to 98.06% capacity at the Broadhurst.

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending September 17:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,389,174
2. The Jersey Boys $1,161,546
3. The Color Purple $922,022
4. The Drowsy Chaperone $912,615
5. The Lion King $851,632

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me $452,228
4. Avenue Q $361,579
3. Rent $311,761
2. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee $241,043
1. Heartbreak House $146,539*

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Jersey Boys 100.77%
2. Wicked 99.65%
3. The History Boys 98.06%
4. Chicago 97.43%
5. Mamma Mia! 96.71%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. The Wedding Singer 69.50%
4. The Phantom of the Opera 69.28%
3. Hairspray 68.87%
2. Rent 65.37%
1. The Producers 54.47%

*Number based on five preview performances.
Data provided by The League of American Theatres and Producers.