Other Desert Cities Beats Hamilton to Become Broadway’s No. 1 Show as Ticket Prices Soar

Other Desert Cities Takes Broadway’s Top Spot

Broadway has a new box-office powerhouse, and surprisingly, it isn't a musical. The star-studded revival of Other Desert Cities topped the Broadway grosses chart for the week ending November 1, 2026, earning an impressive $2,347,158, narrowly beating Hamilton, which collected $2,317,475.

The following week, ending November 8, Hamilton reclaimed first place with $2,697,304, while Other Desert Cities slipped to second with $2,457,184.

Despite dropping one position, the play actually increased its weekly revenue by $110,026, demonstrating remarkable demand for a traditional Broadway drama.

Other Desert Cities Tickets Are Becoming Scarce and Expensive

The biggest story surrounding Other Desert Cities may be its extraordinary ticket prices. The average paid ticket price rose from $301.23 to $315.35 in just one week, making it Broadway's most expensive show on average.

By comparison, Hamilton averaged $253.65 during the latest reporting week, meaning audiences paid approximately 24% more per ticket to see Other Desert Cities.

Both weeks saw the production achieve 100% capacity, selling all 7,792 available seats each week.

For theatergoers hoping to purchase Other Desert Cities tickets, the situation has become increasingly challenging. With such strong demand, inexpensive seats are difficult to find, particularly for popular weekend performances. Buyers looking for specific dates or desirable seating locations may encounter substantial premium prices.

Unlike larger Broadway musicals, the production has relatively limited seating inventory, making tickets especially vulnerable to price increases when demand surges. The Hudson Theatre has 974 seats.

A Rare Broadway Play That Beats Musicals

Musicals traditionally dominate Broadway's weekly grosses because of their larger theaters, broader audiences, and higher seating capacities.

However, Other Desert Cities joins an exclusive group of plays that have outgrossed Broadway's biggest musicals.

In 2025, George Clooney's Good Night, and Good Luck topped the Broadway charts with approximately $3.3 million in one week. Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal's Othello also broke box-office records, earning more than $2.8 million in a single week.

These productions demonstrate how major Hollywood stars can transform straight plays into blockbuster theatrical events, with ticket prices sometimes exceeding those of Broadway's most successful musicals.

Hollywood Stars Overcome Mixed Reviews

The revival features an extraordinary cast led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep), Ed Harris (Apollo 13), Allison Janney (The West Wing), Joe Keery (Stranger Things), and Lily Rabe (American Horror Story).

Despite the star power, critical reviews have been decidedly mixed. Some praised the performances, while others criticized the production's direction and lack of dramatic intensity.

The lukewarm critical response has done virtually nothing to slow ticket sales. Audiences appear willing to pay premium prices for the opportunity to see so many recognizable performers sharing a Broadway stage.

Early 30% Ticket Discounts Are Now a Distant Memory

Before the production opened, producers were concerned about whether the show would attract sufficient ticket sales. To stimulate demand, they offered 30% discounted tickets for the first four weeks.

Those early ticket offers now look extraordinarily generous.

With average prices exceeding $315 and performances selling out, the production has little financial incentive to continue offering substantial discounts.

The chances of another widespread 30% ticket promotion appear extremely slim while demand remains this strong.

How Long Will Other Desert Cities Run?

Other Desert Cities opened October 18, 2026 at the Hudson Theatre and is scheduled to close January 17, 2027, completing its limited engagement.

The limited run creates additional pressure on ticket availability. Unlike long-running musicals such as Hamilton, audiences have only a relatively short window to see this particular cast.

No extension has been announced, although the exceptional box-office performance could make additional performances financially attractive if the cast's schedules permit.

For ticket buyers, the message is clear: waiting for substantial discounts on Other Desert Cities may be an increasingly unrealistic strategy. The production has demonstrated that a star-packed Broadway play can command extraordinary ticket prices, even without universally enthusiastic reviews.