I’m excited to share the latest box office figures that have the theater district buzzing. The highly anticipated musical adaptation of the 1992 comedy film “Death Becomes Her” has worked some serious stage magic, grossing an impressive $1,073,018 in its second week of previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Michelle Williams Star in Supernatural Smash
Starring a powerhouse trio of Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Michelle Williams, “Death Becomes Her” captivated audiences, filling a staggering 98% of the venue’s seats over the seven preview performances. This box office triumph solidifies the show as the breakout hit of the new Broadway season, outpacing other much-hyped newcomers.
In contrast, other previewing productions struggled to reach the 80% capacity mark. A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical filled 75% of seats at Studio 54, grossing $516,874, while Maybe Happy Ending, starring Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen, reached 78% capacity at the Belasco, earning $294,871.
The Elton John and Jake Shears musical Tammy Faye played to just 64% of the Palace Theatre’s seats, grossing $319,918 across six previews. Meanwhile, Swept Away, the new musical featuring a score by the Avett Brothers, filled 82% of seats at the Longacre, grossing $357,470 over five previews.
Established Hits Remain Consistent Performers
Seasoned Broadway favorites continued to draw in the crowds, with Romeo + Juliet pulling in $1,016,266 for its first full week after opening, playing to 102% capacity at Circle in the Square. The revival of Sunset Blvd. also impressed, grossing $1,723,064—a nearly $60,000 increase from the previous week, with average ticket prices climbing to $142.
Other consistent performers included The Outsiders, which also played to standing-room-only crowds at 101% capacity, grossing $1,331,594. Naturally, Wicked topped the list with a staggering $2,279,448 in revenue.
Broadway Sees Slight Dip, But Positive Trends Abound
While Broadway’s cumulative gross of $32,939,767 saw a 3% drop from the previous week, attendance held steady at 285,801, indicating a slight dip in average ticket price. Industry experts attribute this to the Halloween holiday, which typically sees lower theater attendance as people prioritize trick or treating.
However, the overall outlook for Broadway remains bright. Season-to-date, total grosses have reached $751,471,960, up 11% from this time last year, with attendance climbing 10% to 6,116,620 theatergoers.
The $1 Million Club Has Achieved 90% Capacity
Diving deeper into the data, 12 of the 36 currently running Broadway productions have now joined the prestigious “$1 Million Club,” including crowd-pleasers like Wicked, The Lion King, Sunset Blvd., and the new hit Death Becomes Her.
Furthermore, an impressive 16 shows played to audiences filling 90% or more of their seats. This elite group encompasses not only well-known shows like Wicked and Hamilton, but also includes newcomers like Romeo + Juliet, The Outsiders, and the supernatural sensation Death Becomes Her.
As the holiday season approaches, Broadway’s future looks brighter than ever, with new blockbusters like “Death Becomes Her” poised to join the ranks of the industry’s top earners. Theatergoers can expect an electrifying winter on the Great White Way.
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