Matthew Murphy
Broadways Temptations jukebox musical Aint Too Proud sang to the tune of $1 million-plus last week, joining the upper reaches of a generally on-key 35-show box office roster. In all, Broadway grossed $34,204,242, a 4% bump over the previous weeks take.
Attendance for the 35 productions during Week 43 (ending March 24) was up a commensurate 4% to 298,672.
Opening to mixed-to-positive reviews, the full-titled Aint Too Proud: The Life And Times of The Temptations grossed $1,102,218, a $152,437 increase over the previous week – and thats with opening comps and press nights. Seats at the Imperial Theatre were 99.9% filled.
The Temps tale certainly got Broadways spring off to a fine start, with plenty of other hopefuls in the wings. What the Constitution Means to Me, writer-performer Heidi Schrecks Off Broadway smash now in previews at Broadways Helen Hayes Theatre, played to nearly full houses — 98.2% of capacity, to be exact — and grossing $387,553, about 65% of potential but a solid increase over last weeks five previews. Ticket prices are still in the middling range — averaging $86 — but expect good word of mouth to work a lesson on this one. Opening night is March 31.
Also in previews, King Lear, starring theaters queen Glenda Jackson in the title role at the Cort, took in $541,763, about 69% of potential. Attendance was around 83% of capacity. Although its an entirely new production, Jackson opened a Lear in London a few seasons back to rapturous acclaim — like Constitution, this King is likely just getting started. Opening night is April 4.
Next to open is Oklahoma!, the buzz-heavy import from Brooklyns St. Anns Warehouse, now in previews at Circle in the Square, pulling near sell-out crowds and grossing $487,373 for its first seven Broadway previews. It opens April 7.
Burn This, the Lanford Wilson revival starring Star Wars: Episode IX duo Keri Russell and Adam Driver at the Hudson, was yet another sellout, filling every last seat of its seven previews. With a $129 average ticket price, that tallied up to a $850,975, about 97% of potential. Opening night is April 16.
Anais Mitchells musical Hadestown, in previews at the Walter Kerr, kept pace with the other well-doers, selling out its first two Broadway previews (this one got started at New York Theater Workshop). Directed by Rachel Chavkin (she of the amazing Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), Hadestown raised $235,394, a helluva 110% of potential with a $128 average ticket price. The show opens April 17.
Hillary and Clinton, starring Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow as them, played seven previews at the Golden Theatre, taking in $404,881, about 57% of potential. With average tickets at $78, 94% of seats had occupants. April 18 is opening night.
And finally, preview-wise, theres Taylor Macs Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, the comedy at the Booth starring Nathan Lane, Kristine Nielsen and Julie White. After some postponements and a lead actress replacement — the original, Andrea Martin, bowed out on docs orders after breaking some ribs during a rehearsal — the dark comedy from MacArthur “Genius” Mac, directed by George C. Wolfe and, as of late, music by Danny Elfman, played seven previews to 95% full houses last week. Read More – Source
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