Defying Gravity: 'Wicked' breaks Broadway record for highest single-w

Get short URL

Published time: January 03, 2013 08:08
Edited time: January 03, 2013 12:08

The nine-year-old musical hit 'Wicked' earned $2,947,172 over nine performances last week, making it the highest single-week gross for any show in Broadway history.

­'Wicked,' based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, beat the previous record set by 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,' which earned $2,941,790 over nine performances last year during the holiday season, AP reported.

The box office success of both musicals is partly due to the use of premium seating, in which producers charge higher prices for certain days and certain seats. With 'Wicked,' they asked $300 for a top premium seat, second only to the 'Book of Mormon,' which boasted a top premium of $477. The average ticket price for 'Wicked' was $181.

Glinda (C-L), played by Lucy Durack, and Elphaba (C-R), played by Amanda Harrison, perform in the highly acclaimed Broadway musical 'Wicked' during the preview in Sydney on September 10, 2009. (AFP Photo/Torsten Blackwood)

­'Wicked' is performed at the Gershwin Theatre, which has about 100 seats less than the 1,930-seat Foxwoods Theatre, home to the 'Spider-Man' musical. Globally, 'Wicked' has fetched nearly $2.9 billion in ticket sales, and been seen by 36 million people.

'Wicked' producers and investors were not the only ones celebrating: Every show on Broadway reported gains. Among those that earned over $2 million were 'The Lion King,' 'The Book of Mormon' and 'Annie.'

Last week's total gross for all Broadway shows was $37,441,497, beating the same week last season. However, one worrying trend is that attendance has fallen, with 292,432 seats sold last week, nearly 30,000 seats less than the same period last year.