The Broadway scene in Spring 2024 saw an influx of new productions, with 18 debuting between mid-March and late April. However, the aftermath of this Broadway crunch is now showing early signs of the inevitable shake-out. One such example is the impending closure of the show Lempicka, with a few others already playing to houses with attendance at 80% of capacity or less.
In the week ending May 5, after the April 30 Tony nominations announcement, the overall box office saw a decrease of about 7% for all shows, with attendance down about 6% from the previous week. Despite this dip, a significant number of the new productions were filling more than 90% of their seats. Some even achieved sold-out status. For instance, An Enemy of the People, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and Hell's Kitchen were among the top performers in terms of filling seats.
Newcomers like Illinoise, Uncle Vanya, The Wiz, and others managed to fill between 91% and 98% of seats, showcasing a promising start for these productions. However, a third group of shows fell between 80% and 88% of capacity, while another batch performed below 80%. Interestingly, most of the shows in the lower tiers did not receive Best Musical or Best Play Tony nominations, which could have impacted their ticket sales.
It is worth noting that some shows, like Appropriate, made it onto the list due to a commercial transfer in March. While Tony nominations play a role in boosting a show's popularity, it was surprising to see certain productions like The Great Gatsby, Lempicka, The Heart of Rock and Roll, and Patriots not receiving major nominations. This had a direct effect on their average ticket prices, which were disappointingly low for commercial musicals.
In its final week of performances, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street experienced a significant bump in box office revenue. With a stellar cast, including Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster, the musical revival managed to fill all seats at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Overall, the 35 Broadway productions last week grossed $34,757,296, which was a slight drop from the previous week, but still a commendable 15% increase over the previous season.
As the Broadway Spring season in 2024 unfolds, the performance of new productions varies greatly, from sold-out shows to struggling performances below 80% capacity. The impact of Tony nominations on ticket sales, the influence of commercial transfers, and surprising outcomes for certain productions all contribute to the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of Broadway. With each passing week, the fate of these shows hangs in the balance, influenced by critical reception, audience demand, and industry recognition.