Broadway Grosses See Post-Thanksgiving Slump as Hamilton, Beetlejuice Take Major Hits

Broadway grosses fell sharply last week. The decline followed a strong Thanksgiving holiday period. Overall industry revenue dropped by 12 percent.

The data comes from The Broadway League. The drop signals a typical post-holiday cooling period. It highlights the industry’s reliance on seasonal tourism.

Hamilton Grosses Tumble $2 Million Following Star Departure

Hamilton saw a dramatic revenue decrease. Its weekly gross fell by around $2 million. This brought its total down to $2.8 million.

The drop coincided with Leslie Odom Jr.’s departure. Attendance remained high but ticket prices plummeted. The average price dove to $258 from a high of $454.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child reclaimed the top spot. It grossed $2.9 million at the Lyric Theatre. The show benefits from star Tom Felton’s presence.

New Openings and Struggling Shows Define a Volatile Week

The play Majorie Prime opened to positive reviews. Its grosses increased leading up to its December 9 opening. The show played to 93 percent capacity.

Meanwhile, several returning shows faced challenges. Beetlejuice at the Palace Theatre saw a dip. Its capacity fell to 57 percent with grosses down significantly.

The Queen of Versailles moved its closing date forward. The Kristin Chenoweth-led show will now end on December 21. It played to 74 percent capacity last week.

Broadway’s post-holiday correction reveals a two-tier market. Established mega-hits and star-driven shows still draw crowds, while others face a steep climb. The fluctuating Broadway grosses underscore the ongoing challenge of sustaining audience momentum into the winter.

Thought you’d like to know-

What caused the overall drop in Broadway grosses?

The 12% drop is a standard post-Thanksgiving correction. Holiday week attracts peak tourism with higher ticket prices. The subsequent week sees a return to more normal attendance and pricing levels.

Which show was the highest grosser last week?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the top earner at $2.9 million. It narrowly beat Hamilton, which grossed $2.8 million. Wicked followed closely with $2.7 million.

Why did Beetlejuice’s numbers fall?

Beetlejuice saw capacity drop to 57% from 63%. Its grosses fell to $624,785 from over $792,000. The show is on its third return to Broadway, facing fresh competition.

Is The Queen of Versailles closing early?

Yes, the musical moved its final performance to December 21. It was originally scheduled to run until January 4. The show played to 74% capacity in its most recent week.

Did any new shows perform well?

The new play Majorie Prime opened strongly. It played to 93% capacity in previews before its December 9 opening. Grosses increased as it added an extra performance.