Friday, October 4, 2024

Broadway Box Office Struggling as Only 2 Shows Played at 100% Capacity Last Week

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If you’re looking for signs of a recession, or even worries about Times Square, last week’s Broadway grosses may provide some answers.

Of 27 shows (not counting Mike Birbiglia’s one man show that didn’t play a full week) only 2 went over 100% capacity. They were “MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical.” And “Phantom of the Opera,” which is closing soon.

Otherwise, all attendance is down for the third or fourth week in a row. Even Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man” isn’t hitting 100%.

Also suffering are box office perennials like “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” “Harry Potter,” and “The Book of Mormon.”

Then there are newer shows like “Into the Woods,” “Leopoldstadt,” “Top Dog/Underdog,” “The Piano Lesson,” and “Death of a Salesman.” If you love Broadway, and live theater, you must see these in particular. They cannot be missed.

And let’s not forget “Hadestown,” the Best Musical from two years ago, still incredibly wonderfully entertaining.

Times Square is safe, as is all of the theater district. And this is a great time to get discount tickets online, especially at tdf.org.

Tomorrow night comes “Almost Famous,” the musical based on the beloved Cameron Crowe movie. I’ll tell you all about it Friday morning. I’m going to love it no matter what!

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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