Despite minor dips and mixed reviews, George Clooney and Denzel Washington-led productions dominate Broadway grosses ahead of a packed April lineup
New York, April 2: Broadway is buzzing this spring as box office numbers continue to climb, with George Clooney’s Good Night and Good Luck holding its top spot as the highest-grossing play for another week, even amid a slight dip in earnings.
Following a record-breaking week, the Cold War-era newsroom drama, co-written by and starring Clooney, brought in a formidable $3.28 million, despite a $22,558 drop, likely due to comped press performances. Still, the show played to over 100% capacity at the Winter Garden Theatre with an average ticket price nearing $299. The play officially opens on April 3.
Meanwhile, Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal’s star power propelled Othello back up the charts. The Shakespearean revival rebounded from a slower press week, bringing in $3.1 million, with ticket prices averaging a staggering $378.73, the highest on Broadway. The show continues to sell out nightly at the Barrymore Theatre, despite mixed-to-negative reviews.
Netflix’s highly anticipated Stranger Things: The First Shadow also entered the Broadway game with a strong debut. In its first two preview performances, the stage prequel to the sci-fi hit pulled $433,725 at the Marquis Theatre, boasting 100% capacity and an average ticket price of $136.05. The official opening is slated for April 22.
Following the top two plays, Wicked ($2.56M), The Lion King ($2.11M), and the all-star revival of Glengarry Glen Ross ($2.10M) rounded out the top five. The latter, featuring Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr, is drawing solid audiences despite mixed reviews ahead of its Palace Theatre opening.
The Broadway industry saw a 6% increase in total grosses, fueled by the arrival of three new shows: Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, and Floyd Collins, a musical starring Lizzy McAlpine and Jeremy Jordan at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.
With April packed full of high-profile openings and star-studded casts, the Broadway spring season is off to a strong—and star-powered—start.