On Broadway, March always comes in like a lamb, never like a lion. Week 40 (Feb. 28-March 6) was no exception, as 25 shows brought in $12,577,154, down $2,515,508 or 16.67%.
A year ago, the early-March sesh did only marginally better, producing $12.85 million in receipts. Paid attendance then was 200,168 vs. last week's 193,661.
Broadway has certainly seen worse numbers for early March. Two years ago, the musicians' strike KO'd a weekend of performances.
Last week, only two shows increased their receipts. Up $2,759, "700 Sundays" ($783,704) moved into the No. 4 slot on the B.O. chart, ahead of "The Producers" ($710,101), "Hairspray" ($642,146) and the previewing "Spamalot" ($753,039), which saw its gross cut due to benefit tickets.
"The Glass Menagerie" ($311,658), the week's other gainer, did a full eight after the previous session's five previews, its gross up a nifty $52,094. Last-minute replacement Christian Slater went into the show March 4, four days ahead of sked.
Otherwise, freefalls at the box office were more the rule than the exception. Biggest hits were sustained by "Fiddler on the Roof" ($537,847) and "La Cage aux Folles" ($390,029), down $250,780 and $192,273, respectively.
The 19 musicals grossed $10,612,504 for 84.4% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 163,417 at 76.4% of capacity.
The six plays grossed $1,964,650 for 15.6% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 30,244 at 69.9% of capacity.
Average ticket prices were $64.94 for musicals, $64.96 for plays, and $64.94 for all shows.
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