Except for “Gypsy,” every other show on Broadway boomed during Christmas week.
Total receipts were up by $11 million over the previous week to $55 million. That’s a high for the year.
Poor “Gypsy” made just $280,000 after cancelling all but one performance. The week before, the sold out musical revival made over $1.5 million. The show is back on now and will be sold out even more as ticket holders try to get new reservations.
“Wicked” led all shows despite the movie having made almost $450 million in the last month. It seems the movie sent everyone back to the live show. Total take was an unheard of FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
Runner up was “The Lion King” with $4 million! And this is despite the release of “Mufasa,” spin off movie that wasn’t warmly welcomed but has still made $120 million. “Mufasa” also sent fans back to the real thing!
The $2 million plus club included “Hamilton,” “Back to the Future,” “MJ The Musical,” “The Outsiders,” “Harry Potter,” and “Aladdin.” Many house records were broken. Even the great “Maybe Happy Ending” cleared $1 million.
Believe it or not, “Chicago” yielded $1.3 million! How could this be? Tourists love it. Co-composer John Kander, age 97, is just hearing ka-ching ka-ching ka-ching. Kander and Fred Ebb wrote all the famous songs and numbers. They also wrote “New York, New York.” which was used last night on TV to wrap up the New Year’s Eve special on CNN. Amazing. In 1981, “New York, New York” lost the Best Song at the Grammy Awards to Christopher Cross’s “Sailing.”
As for “Gypsy,” it’s hoped they’re back on track. Why they didn’t have understudies ready to go is a mystery. Did they have COVID? RSV? Norovirus? At least the ordeal is over. But it’s a strict lesson to be learned from.
