Broadway Grosses: Winter Doldrums Push Box Office Down

Broadway box offices took their usual late-January dip, with grosses under pressure, no doubt, from all the folks who chose to stay home on Super Bowl Sunday. Only the top three shows filled their theaters to more than 90% of capacity, with Will Ferrell’s limited run in You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush topping the rankings at close to 95% at the Cort Theatre. The Chinese martial arts show Soul of Shaolin ended its limited run at the Marquis Theatre, future home of the new musical 9 to 5.

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending February 1:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,212,812
2. Billy Elliot $1,066,492
3. Jersey Boys $941,089
4. South Pacific $856,605
5. The Lion King $803,913

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. August: Osage County $282,793
4. Hedda Gabler $230,679
3. Avenue Q $191,418
2. The American Plan $183,515
1. The 39 Steps $169,868

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush 94.83%*
2. Wicked 94.31%
3. Jersey Boys 91.09%
4. South Pacific 89.84%
5. Billy Elliot 88.21%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. August: Osage County 61.70%
4. Chicago 57.08%
3. Avenue Q 56.60%
2. Speed-the-Plow 54.58%
1. Shrek 51.63%

*Number based on eight preview performances.
Data provided by the Broadway League.