Dear Evan Hansen’ Becomes Highest-Grossing New Broadway Musical
“After weeks of creeping up the charts, Dear Evan Hansen has eclipsed Josh Groban as Broadway’s hottest new ticket.
With $1.1 million in its pockets this week, the little-musical-that-could snuck ahead of Groban’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812 by a wee margin of $8,500. Both shows are generating strong buzz and regularly swarmed by ardent fans and celebs alike.
Until recently, The Great Comet had outgrossed every other new show on the boards. While it’s still doing excellent business, Hansen‘s beefier premium prices have consistently been higher, and ultimately made the difference. This week Comet went for $122 a pop, Broadway’s sixth most expensive. Hansen was third at $138, behind only The Book Of Mormon ($150) and Hamilton ($229).
Otherwise, the industry held steady. Most shows actually posted gains from last week, but with the closure of Oh, Hello, the overall total sank 2.8%, to $21.08 million.
August Wilson’s Jitney had the biggest shift, hopping up $110,000 on the strength of its stellar reviews, with a corresponding price increase of $20 per seat. Fellow non-musical The Front Page closed with a solid $1.07 million after being the first show of the season to recoup its costs. Cate Blanchett’s The Present is still selling well at $935,000 – but that’s $100,000 less than weeks ago.
A Bronx Tale, the season’s other big musical hit, is showing some serious legs It’s been taking well over 90% of its potential gross all month ($916,000 this week) and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. In Transit, the odd musical out, is also steady, but at the bottom, as Broadway’s lowest-grossing show.
However, In Transit is about even with Jitney and On Your Feet! when measured by percentage of potential gross (46%), and just a few points below Phantom Of The Opera, which is experiencing the usual post-tourist drought (51%). Ditto Paramour, School Of Rock, and Cats, which are are taking just above half their maximum box office.
The biz is down a full 10% from the same time last year, with nine fewer shows playing. The spring is set for a deluge, though, with a total of 13 new musicals opening this season, most in the last month of eligibility for Tony awards.
Lee is an actor, writer, producer, and investor. Follow him @LeemourSeymour or visit www.lee-seymour.com to learn more.” Forbes