Broadway Grosses: Vacation Week Keeps Numbers Up

The dreaded January drop at the box office began last week, but hit shows remained strong—possibly because many schools remained closed through the week following New Year's Day, which fell on Tuesday. Thirteen Broadway shows played to more than 90% of capacity, including the previewing The Little Mermaid, which was over 100%, and the top five all exceeded $1 million in grosses. A bigger test will come next week, when the kiddies are back in school and the last of the holiday visitors go home. At that point, everyone can ponder the effect of freaky spring-like weather in New York City!

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending January 6:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,494,991
2. The Lion King $1,294,953
3. Jersey Boys $1,229,925
4. The Little Mermaid $1,130,940
5. Mary Poppins $1,080,290

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Xanadu $230,398
4. Cymbeline $230,226
3. Is He Dead? $216,570
2. The 39 Steps $113,696*
1. Come Back, Little Sheba $87,185**

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. Les Miserables 101.07%
2. The Little Mermaid 100.83%
3. Jersey Boys 100.81%
4. Wicked 100%
5. Grease 98.68%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. The Farnsworth Invention 57%
4. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas 54.81%***
3. Come Back, Little Sheba 54.59%**
2. Cymbeline 46.78%
1. A Bronx Tale 46.18%

* Number based on 4 preview performances
** Number based on 5 preview performances
*** Number based on 12 regular performances
Data provided by the League of American Theatres and Producers.