Tony winners top box office

Broadway Summary

By GORDON COX, SAM THIELMAN

NEW YORK -- Summer momentum continued to build on the Rialto in Week 4, with sales at most productions climbing -- although overall cume dipped in the wake of four post-Tony closings the prior frame.

A full eight productions pulled in capacity auds, with six of them posting sales of more than $1 million each, including Tony winners "Billy Elliot" ($1,425,426) and "Hair" ($1,094,747).

Perhaps the most notable of the SRO productions, however, were the plays, including "God of Carnage" ($969,291), creeping ever closer to that $1 million mark -- an astonishing feat for a nonmusical. "Waiting for Godot" ($561,246), the especially popular revival from Roundabout Theater Company, also played to full houses.

Only a few shows were shut out of the B.O. benefits, with "9 to 5" ($800,067) and "Mary Stuart" ($320,278) slipping by a bit more than $22,000 each.

Despite the general upward trend, Broadway's overall total slid thanks to the recent closings of productions including "Exit the King" and "Guys and Dolls." Cume dropped $1.3 million to $20.8 million for 28 shows on the boards.

The 18 musicals grossed $16,971,915 for 81.4% of the Broadway total, with an attendance of 186,733 at 93.2% capacity and average paid admission of $90.89.

The 10 plays grossed $3,866,125 for 18.6% of the Broadway total, with an attendance of 58,726 at 78.1% capacity and average paid admission of $65.83.

Average paid admission was $84.89 for all shows.

-- Gordon Cox and Sam Thielman