Broadway Box Office: Grosses Drop 11 Percent Amid New England Nor’Easter

Broadway attendance and capacity took a plunge last week, with both dropping about 11 percent from the prior week.

This came amid a weekend storm that led to a state of emergency in several New York areas, and came the week after the end of the Broadway Week promotion, which offered discounted tickets to several shows in an effort to boost attendance before the fall season heats up.

Hamilton was the highest grossing show last week, with $2.6 million, followed by The Lion King with $1.7 million. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the third highest grossing, as the play rebounded up $600,000 from the prior week, to $1.6 million, as Tom Felton returned to his role in the play after a scheduled absence.

MJ was the fifth highest, with $1.5 million, followed by Oh, Mary! with $1.46 million, powered by star Bowen Yang, who has extended his run through Jan. 17.

Wicked saw one of the biggest downturns, down more than $290,000 from the prior week, to $1 million, as attendance dropped to 86 percent from 99 percent. Stranger Things: The First Shadow saw a close to $250,000 dip, landing around $570,000.

New play Paranormal Activity was among the few that bucked the trend, with grosses up close to $86,000 from the prior week to reach just over $870,000 (the prior week did also include a fully comped gala opening). Capacity was at 97 percent.

The Imaginary Invalid, starring Bill Irwin and Rachel Bloom, began previews Sept. 25, ahead of an Oct. 22 opening. The play saw 94 percent capacity across its first three previews and brought in just above $180,000 at the nonprofit theater.