Has Broadway finally found its way out of the deep freeze?
The Presidents Day weekend sent receipts up more than $1.7 million for a total cume of $14.2 million. "Little Shop of Horrors" was the only show of Broadway's current 27 not to report figures for last week (due to Monday's holiday). Its tally, however, could push ticket sales over the record $14.7 million Broadway reaped a year ago during this time frame.
Broadway's long-running musicals enjoyed the holiday. "Mamma Mia!" ($910,162) actually registered some improvement from mid-February 2003. Most others experienced only slight erosion from the B.O. heights they reached in February 2003. Compared with Presidents Day levels then, box office last week was down 5% or less at "Aida" ($655,851), "Beauty and the Beast" ($612,174), "Chicago" ($535,611), "The Lion King" ($1,109,507), "The Phantom of the Opera" ($507,426) and "Rent" ($390,759).
The exceptions were "42nd Street" ($564,528), "Hairspray" ($816,819) and "Thoroughly Modern Millie" ($511,592), each showing significant six-figure slippage from February 2003.
Back from vacation, Hugh Jackman put in a full eight perfs last week, boosting "The Boy From Oz" ($749,625) by $376,625.
Understandably, other new fare had less dramatic gains. "Avenue Q" ($397,211), "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" ($384,272), "Wicked" ($1,001,323) and "Wonderful Town" ($550,609) kept their respective bumps to more modest five-figure sums.
"The Producers" ($1,367,229), of course, enjoyed a big uptick.
Set to close later this month, "Anna in the Tropics" ($216,086) and "The Retreat From Moscow" ($180,164) were up $77,306 and $42,238, respectively.
Despite calling it quits Sunday, "Never Gonna Dance" ($416,639) just never caught on, its capacity languishing at 69.7%.
Soldiering on, "Gypsy" ($531,475) gained for the second week in a row, its receipts up $108,150. Gaining $28,460, "Golda's Balcony" ($164,607) managed to reverse its recent downward trend. And despite putting in only seven perfs, "I Am My Own Wife" ($160,847) held steady with another $1,486 in its coffers.
'Lear' looking good
Is Lincoln Center Theater looking at another Bard hit after the success of "Henry IV"? In its first four previews, "King Lear" ($211,700) registered a strong performance, its cap at 97.2%.
For seven previews, "Fiddler on the Roof" ($641,405) did 89.2%.
Nancy Opel, a Tony nominee for "Urinetown," will play the role of Yente in "Fiddler." She replaces Barbara Barrie, who has left the show halfway through previews, due to creative differences. The revival remains on sked to open Feb. 26.
Contact Robert Hofler at
bob.hofler@variety.com