Broadway Show Ticket Sales Analysis w/e 10/26/2014

“A Delicate Balance” Off To A Flying Start

On October 20, 2014, A Delicate Balance began previews at the John Golden Theatre. In this first week of recorded box office figures, representing a full week of eight performances, the show brought in a remarkable starting gross of $884,596, which represents 102.25% of its gross potential.

With a top ticket price of $323.00 and an average ticket price of $137.87, the show was completely sold out, having sold all 6,416 seats across the eight performances.

Big Names Draw In Audiences

The success of this show is not simple to explain, as though it does have a cast full of stars, so do other shows that aren’t selling quite as well (for example, The Real Thing).

Nevertheless, ticketbuyers are drawn to the names attached to A Delicate Balance, including not only the playwright Edward Albee and the director Pam MacKinnon, but more importantly the actors Bob Balaban, Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Lindsay Duncan, and Martha Plimpton. In addition, credit must truly be given to the producer, Scott Rudin.

A Continuing Decline For Long-Running Musicals

The biggest decrease in weekly box office gross this past week was seen by Wicked, which brought in $1,489,079, representing a decrease of $191,770. The next biggest decline was seen by Les Miserables with a decrease of $125,605, followed by Matilda with a decrease of $121,364.

Furthermore, declines were seen by Cinderella, The Phantom of the Opera, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Chicago, If/Then, Cabaret, Jersey Boys, and Once – all of which are long-running musicals.

Many Plays Saw Increases This Week

This goes to show that as the fall season is truly getting underway, with the crux of new shows opening in surrounding weeks, the ticketbuying market is steering towards the new shows, many of which are plays. In addition to the immense increase seen by A Delicate Balance, other plays with increased sales this week include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Disgraced, and It’s Only a Play.