The Spring of 2024 on Broadway has seen an influx of new productions, with 18 shows opening between mid-March and late April. However, early signs are indicating an inevitable shake-out, as one show, Lempicka, is already slated to close. Additionally, several other productions are struggling to fill seats, playing to houses at only 80% capacity or less.
During the week ending May 5, following the April 30 Tony nominations announcement, the overall box office for all shows was down by approximately 7%, with attendance also dropping by 6% from the previous week. Nonetheless, several newcomers managed to fill more than 90% of their seats, with some even achieving full-house status. Standout performances include the impressive gross of An Enemy of the People at $1,048,286, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club with $1,920,289, and Hell’s Kitchen at $1,270,519. These productions were closely followed by newcomers such as Illinoise, Uncle Vanya, The Wiz, Mother Play, Mary Jane, Stereophonic, and The Outsiders, all of whom filled between 91% and 98% of their seats.
Further analysis reveals a tiered performance among the new productions, with some falling between 80% and 88% of capacity. Notable examples include The Great Gatsby, The Notebook, Water For Elephants, and Suffs. A lower tier consists of shows which fell below 80% capacity, such as The Who’s Tommy, The Heart of Rock and Roll, and Patriots. Surprisingly, many of these shows did not receive nominations for Best Musical or Best Play at the Tony Awards.
When looking at the commercial success of these productions, it is evident that ticket prices play a significant role. Shows like Lempicka and The Heart of Rock and Roll had average ticket prices as low as $39.33 and $47.49, respectively, which is concerning for commercial musicals. It is worth noting that while some productions, like Appropriate, fell into lower capacity brackets, they have been running on Broadway for a longer duration.
Despite the challenges facing the Broadway industry, standout performances like Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street managed to gross $1,762,444 in its final week, a significant increase from the previous week. This revival filled all seats at the Lunt-Fontanne, showcasing the potential for success under the right circumstances.
The Broadway Crunch of Spring 2024 highlights the complexities of the industry, with some productions thriving while others struggle to find their footing. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these shows evolve and whether they can withstand the competitive nature of Broadway.