Boffo B.O. sets record

Broadway grosses

By VARIETY STAFF

NEW YORK -- Broadway got soaked New Year's week -- in cash, that is. The haul of $22,069,502 during Week 31 (Dec. 27-Jan. 2) was the Fabulous Invalid's best frame ever, breaking the previous record of $21,350,633 set during Christmas 2002 (Dec. 23-29). Attendance was 288,785, just below the 2002 figure of 289,221.

Ten shows had nine-perf weeks. That group included "Fiddler on the Roof" ($1,145,912), "Hairspray" ($1,095,873), "Movin' Out" ($1,003,096) and "Rent" ($683,165), which all set house records.

Eight-perf shows also broke house records, including "Wicked" ($1,276,328), "Mamma Mia!" ($1,130,026), "Beauty and the Beast" ($1,044,028), "Avenue Q" ($553,077), "Chicago" ($734,433) and "Twelve Angry Men" ($408,192).

Overall, 23 of the 31 shows on the boards had their highest-grossing weeks to date.

The 21 musicals grossed $18,318,051 for 83.0% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 232,740 at 94.3% of capacity.

The 10 plays grossed $3,751,451 for 17.0% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 56,045 at 73.9% of capacity.

Average ticket prices were $78.71 for musicals, $66.94 for plays and $76.42 for all shows.