Culture Chronicle

Fewer People but More Money for Broadway
The New York Times - May 25, 2010
By Patrick Healy

Broadway productions grossed a total of $1.02 billion during the 2009-10 season, which officially ended on Sunday, with premium-price tickets for star-driven shows like "A Steady Rain," "Hamlet" and "A Little Night Music" increasing box office sales in spite of a 3 percent decline in attendance compared to the 2008-09 season, according to new data from the Broadway League.

The overall gross of $1.02 billion was a slight improvement on the $1 billion gross for 2008-09, though the latter figure did not include box office sales for the now-shuttered musical "Young Frankenstein." That show's producers chose not to provide weekly grosses to the Broadway League, an industry group of theater owners and producers that collects and publicly releases weekly box office data. Factoring in "Young Frankenstein," the 2008-09 season could have grossed up to 1 percent more money than the 2009-10 season, said Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the league. "In any case, we are thrilled that even in this current economic climate, our numbers are strong thanks to the vibrancy of this season's offerings," Ms. St. Martin said in a statement.

Total attendance at Broadway shows during the 2009-10 season was 11.89 million. The 2009-10 season's track record of financial gains in spite of audience losses can be explained in part by the financial success of some plays and musicals that sold a portion of their best seats at a premium, for $300 or more, while other shows struggled to attract audience members.* For the full article, click here*