“Of Mice And Men” Breaks A Million In Its Final Week

By Jennifer R Jones | Posted on July 29, 2014 11:31 AM

In Its Final Week, “Of Mice And Men” Performed Its Best Week Yet, Bringing In Over One Million Dollars. On The Other Hand, Two Musicals Set To Close.

“Of Mice And Men” Breaks A Million In Its Final Week

The revival of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men played its final performance on Sunday, July 27, 2014. Starring James Franco, Chris O’Dowd, and Leighton Meester, the show attracted a fair amount of press attention upon its premiere; however the reviews were mixed, with the celebrity appeal and inherent value of the classic play superseding actual praise for the production.

Nevertheless, in its final week, audiences flocked to catch Franco in his last moments onstage. The weekly gross last week was $1,038,106, which was the first week the show broke through the million dollar mark.

National Theatre Live Series

It was also the first time it earned over 100% of its gross capacity, coming in at 109.97%. The average ticket price was also at a high of $121.06. The show even beat out some major musicals including this year’s Tony Award winning show A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

These sales were likely helped by the recent announcement that this production will be the first Broadway show ever to be recorded and screened live as part of the National Theatre Live screening series.

“Violet” Gasping For Air

This Roundabout musical starring Sutton Foster has already announced its closing date: August 10, 2014. In its final weeks, it is at the bottom of the Broadway barrel.

This past week, it grossed only $357,776, which was only 46.38% of its gross potential. This is quite low, especially for a musical. However, because it is produced by a not-for-profit theatre institution, this musical does not face the same commercial pressures as most Broadway shows that are fronted by private funds.

"Bullets Over Broadway" Announced Closing Date

With a top ticket price of $142.00, the show’s average ticket price this week was $73.74. Still, though Violet earned the title of lowest grossing show this week, it was beat out by one show in terms of lowest percentage earned of its gross potential.

Bullets over Broadway, which has also announced its closing date of August 24, 2014, grossed a higher amount of $663,950 this past week. However, because it is in a larger theatre with a greater earning capacity, it managed to bring in only 43.80% of its gross potential. This musical, unlike Violet, is not backed by a not-for-profit theatre institution.

The following are the Broadway ticket sales numbers for the week ending July 27, 2014:

Show	GrossGross	TotalAttn	%Cap	AvgPdAdm
A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER	$944,778	7,330	101.02%	$128.89
ALADDIN	$1,512,464	13,775	99.93%	$109.80
BEAUTIFUL	$1,315,468	8,272	100.78%	$159.03
BULLETS OVER BROADWAY	$663,950	8,985	68.90%	$73.90
CABARET	$834,470	6,790	95.04%	$122.90
CHICAGO	$626,904	7,598	87.94%	$82.51
CINDERELLA	$824,605	11,262	80.40%	$73.22
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH	$1,068,441	7,212	102.31%	$148.15
IF/THEN	$822,516	9,283	88.51%	$88.60
JERSEY BOYS	$902,008	9,085	92.48%	$99.29
KINKY BOOTS	$1,305,460	10,997	96.53%	$118.71
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL	$556,537	4,654	97.49%	$119.58
LES MISÉRABLES	$1,081,661	10,886	96.58%	$99.36
MAMMA MIA!	$788,598	8,863	95.02%	$88.98
MATILDA	$1,196,994	11,540	100.73%	$103.73
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL	$991,495	10,220	84.77%	$97.02
NEWSIES	$896,763	9,461	99.80%	$94.79
OF MICE AND MEN	$1,038,106	8,575	99.90%	$121.06
ONCE	$472,176	6,218	73.39%	$75.94
PIPPIN	$676,450	7,673	96.88%	$88.16
ROCK OF AGES	$360,045	4,148	88.94%	$86.80
ROCKY	$701,805	9,278	76.50%	$75.64
THE BOOK OF MORMON	$1,640,549	8,752	102.63%	$187.45
THE LION KING	$2,304,798	13,604	100.03%	$169.42
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA	$1,140,517	12,634	98.40%	$90.27
VIOLET	$357,776	4,852	82.63%	$73.74
WICKED	$2,012,891	15,423	99.99%	$130.51
Totals:	$27,038,224	247,370	92.87%	$107.68