Broadway Grosses: Spring Brings Uptick at the Box Office

It snowed in New York City on the first day of spring, but Broadway box offices felt a welcome warming trend, with 27 of 29 shows reporting a jump in grosses from the previous week. Joining the preview parade were the new musical Rock of Ages and Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, while Manhattan Theatre Club’s revival of Richard Greenberg’s The American Plan played its final performance. Newcomer West Side Story maintained its spot in the $1 million club. Though it didn’t make the Frontrunners’ lists, Blithe Spirit rang up an extra $200,000 after reviews praised the revival and particularly the performance of Angela Lansbury.

Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending March 22:

FRONTRUNNERS By Gross
1. Wicked $1,444,495
2. Billy Elliot $1,188,954
3. The Lion King $1,128,139
4. Jersey Boys $1,032,100
5. West Side Story $1,004,497*

UNDERDOGS By Gross
5. Rock of Ages $229,602**
4. Irena’s Vow $206,040***
3. The American Plan $115,488
2. Reasons to be Pretty $106,449****
1. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone $78,336*****

FRONTRUNNERS By Capacity
1. West Side Story 101.01%*
2. Jersey Boys 100.58%
3. Wicked 100%
4. The Phantom of the Opera 99.91%
5. Guys and Dolls 99.70%

UNDERDOGS By Capacity
5. Irena’s Vow 61.83%***
4. August: Osage County 57.51%
3. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone 53.41%*****
2. The American Plan 45.65%
1. Reasons to be Pretty 43.06%****

*Number based on four previews and four regular performances.
**Number based on six preview performances.
***Number based on eight preview performances.
****Number based on seven preview performances.
*****Number based on four preview performances.
Data provided by the Broadway League.