Broadway Grosses: Fall Into Drama

Broadway's play drought is ending: Two high-profile dramas, The Farnsworth Invention and Rock 'n' Roll, began previews this past week, joining the previewing Cyrano de Bergerac and A Bronx Tale and the just-opened Pygmalion, The Ritz and Mauritius. As the new entries jockeyed for attention, long-running musicals held steady or made slight gains over the previous week. Disney's The Lion King, which began previews exactly 10 years ago this week, ranked in the top five in both grosses and capacity. Note: Young Frankenstein, now in previews at the Hilton Theatre, has declined to report its grosses to the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending October 21:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,449,978
2. Jersey Boys $1,284,622
3. The Lion King $1,180,225
4. Mary Poppins $982,217
5. Mamma Mia! $954,385

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Pygmalion $228,601*
4. A Bronx Tale $216,978**
3. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee $207,440
2. The Farnsworth Invention $190,545***
1. Rock 'n' Roll $138,108****

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Jersey Boys 100.78%
2. Wicked 99.88%
3. Spring Awakening 98.89%
4. The Lion King 98.27%
5. Mamma Mia! 96.87%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. The Drowsy Chaperone 71.88%
4. Xanadu 71.52%
3. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 68.93%
2. Rent 53.85%
1. The Farnsworth Invention 46.20%***

*Number based on 3 preview and 5 regular performances
** Number based on 6 preview performances
***Number based on 7 preview performances
****Number based on 2 preview performances
Data provided by the League of American Theatres and Producers