Broadway Grosses: Lane's Butley Off to a Strong Start

Two-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane is back on Broadway in the title role of Butley, Simon Gray's 1972 dark comedy; the revival also stars four-time Tony nominee Dana Ivey. Butley, which officially opens on October 25 at the Booth Theatre, packed the house to 95.22% capacity in its first four preview performances. Other shows just getting started include two highly anticipated musicals: Grey Gardens, which filled the Walter Kerr Theatre to 81.46% after seven preview performances; and the Twyla Tharp/Bob Dylan tuner The Times They Are A-Changin, which filled the Brooks Atkinson Theatre to 87.58% after eight previews.

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending October 8:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,410,150
2. Jersey Boys $1,167,651
3. The Lion King $1,099,971
4. The Drowsy Chaperone $1,047,479
5. The Color Purple $1,026,121

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee $296,752
4. Butley $242,667*
3. Heartbreak House $233,009**
2. Losing Louie $183,242**
1. Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! $65,062

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Jersey Boys 100.79%
2. Wicked 100%
3. Mamma Mia! 97.27%
4. The Drowsy Chaperone 95.52%
5. Butley 95.22%*

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. The Wedding Singer 74.73%
4. Losing Louie 73.71%**
3. Rent 72.61%
2. The Producers 64.13%
1. Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! 28.85%

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