Broadway Grosses: Pre-Fall Lull Continues

Broadway's box offices rebounded slightly from a difficult post-Labor Day week, but a pre-fall lull continued, with only seven of 23 shows topping 85% of capacity and only two Jersey Boys and Wicked topping $1 million in grosses. Though several shows that attract younger audiences took a big dip, Grease held strong, with the second highest average paid admission price of any show $101.54, bested only by Jersey Boys. After a couple of weeks with no plays to choose from on Broadway, two began previews, Theresa Rebeck's Mauritius and a revival of Terrence McNally's The Ritz.

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending September 16:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,353,236
2. Jersey Boys $1,208,017
3. The Lion King $987,013
4. Mamma Mia! $832,533
4. Mary Poppins $825,587

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Rent $262,053
4. Xanadu $240,692
3. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee $174,847
2. Mauritius $113,423*
1. The Ritz $93,124**

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Jersey Boys 100.77%
2. Wicked 97.93%
3. Mamma Mia! 90.37%
4. A Chorus Line 88.53%
5. Grease 86.92%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. The Drowsy Chaperone 64.06%
4. Les Miserables 63.10%
3. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 62.59%
2. Legally Blonde 60%
1. Rent 56.70%

* Number based on 5 preview performances
** Number based on 3 preview performances
Data provided by the League of American Theatres and Producers.