‘Wicked’ Has Highest Grossing Week in Broadway History

As a seasoned Broadway enthusiast with decades of theater-going under my belt, I must say that last week was nothing short of extraordinary! The sheer magnitude of the box office earnings by shows like “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” and “Hamilton” left me absolutely awestruck. The energy in the air was palpable, the excitement was contagious, and the numbers were nothing short of mind-boggling!

I remember attending my first Broadway show back in 1985, and I’d never have imagined that the industry would grow to such heights. It’s truly a testament to the power of storytelling, the magic of live performance, and the enduring allure of New York City.

What struck me most was the resurgence in popularity of shows like “Wicked” and “The Outsiders,” which have been running for decades but still managed to break box office records. It just goes to show that timeless stories will always find an audience, regardless of the passage of time.

I couldn’t help but notice a few hiccups along the way, such as the cancellations at “Gypsy” due to illness. It’s always a reminder that even in the glitz and glamour of Broadway, life goes on and things don’t always go according to plan. But hey, that’s part of the charm, right?

All in all, last week was a shining example of the power of live theater and the passion of its fans. I can’t wait to see what the remaining holiday week brings! And as for a little humor, let me leave you with this: They say the show must go on, but sometimes even the toughest Broadway performers need a sick day – or seven!

Last week, Wicked earned an astounding $5 million, setting a new record for the highest weekly box office take of any Broadway production ever.

Last week, instead of the usual eight performances, the total accumulated across nine shows broke a record for the show that has been running on Broadway since 2003. This musical generated $2 million more than the previous week and had an average ticket price of approximately $291.

Wicked, often a strong box office competitor, has recently experienced a notable surge in popularity, boosting its success even further. Similarly, the time period between Christmas and New Year’s is usually a profitable one for numerous productions within the entertainment industry.

Beyond “Wicked,” a number of other productions ran for nine shows last week, such as “The Lion King” which raked in a whopping $4.2 million, “Aladdin” with $2.81 million and “The Great Gatsby” with $2.62 million. These performances set a new record for the highest gross at the Broadway Theatre over nine shows. Notably, even though it only ran for eight shows, “Hamilton” managed to secure the third-highest industry gross, earning an impressive $2.93 million.

Last week saw numerous productions shatter box office records, among them being “The Outsiders” which set a new benchmark at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre for the tenth occasion, breaking its own previous record of eight shows. The musical raked in approximately $2 million, with an average ticket price of $239.96. Similarly, “Elf The Musical” surpassed the box office record at the Marquis Theatre, earning a gross of $2.2 million.

Despite the surge in ticket sales during the holiday season, productions were simultaneously grappling with an increase in illness cases, such as at the ‘Gypsy’ show where they had to cancel seven out of their scheduled eight performances. The musical managed to earn $280,095 from a solitary performance.

As a lifelong retail worker, I can confidently say that this holiday season has been exceptional for me and my colleagues. The gross sales for this Christmas week have increased by nearly 23 percent compared to last year, which was unique due to having both Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve falling within the same week. This surge in sales has not only boosted our morale but also provided us with a sense of relief as we approach the end of the year.

Moreover, the overall growth of more than 16 percent for the entire 2024-2025 season is truly remarkable. With just the holiday week left, I am optimistic that our store will bring in even more revenue than last season. This upward trend has been a breath of fresh air, and it’s heartening to see customers flocking to our stores with enthusiasm.

As someone who has been through various economic cycles during my career, I can attest that this holiday shopping season has been one of the best I have ever witnessed. The increased sales have not only improved our store’s performance but also boosted the overall retail industry’s outlook for the coming year.

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2025-01-01 01:25