Broadway season was hit hard by Covid: $ 845 million 2021-22 total 54% discount from pre-pandemic $ 1.8 billion

The 2021-22 season of Broadway – 10 weeks shorter than usual – worries Covid and its cancellations, not to mention the tourists who did not show up – at the box office, with numbers no less strong at the end of the season. Expected: The industry grossed a total of $ 845,354,915 at the box office, which is about 54% lower than the all-time high of $ 1.829 billion recorded during the 2018-19 Broadway season (the last full season before the closure of the COVID-19 pandemic) .2020).

Data compiled by the Broadway League released today points to total attendance for the season at 6,729,143, which is also down 54% from a 2019 record of 14,768,254. Despite the year-over-year decline, the percentage of seats available for the 2021-22 season was a solid 82%.

Some key caveats in the annual review: the start of the season, which ended on May 22, was delayed by 10 weeks due to the Covid blockade, meaning the season only lasted 42 weeks, compared to the usual 52. When Broadway returned in August last year, production openings continued throughout the fall, with only 30 of Broadway’s 39 available locations occupied in early November (two locations were under construction).

Of the 42 weeks of the season, 16 included a show canceled due to Covid, including the usually lucrative December and New Year holidays.

In total, a total of 56 shows were presented on Broadway during the 2021-22 season, including 34 new shows, 17 continuous shows and 5 return shows.

The season just ended, celebrated on June 12 with a field awards ceremony, ended on a positive note, with 35 shows running for a total of $ 33,290,185, 10% more than the previous week. The 257,558 attendees noticed a 5% increase from the previous week, with the average ticket price increasing to $ 129, an increase of about 5% from the previous week’s $ 123.

Almost all of the shows saw at least a slight increase from the previous week, which could at least reflect Tony’s recent nominations. And just one show: the Lincoln Center Theater the skin of our teeth – Shows canceled (2) due to Covid (Revival grossed $ 164,479 for six shows, occupying approximately 44% of available space).

The upward trajectory continues after 11 nominations at launch, strange cycle It increased from $ 13,060 to $ 703,728, occupying 90% of its seats. There were other products that exceeded 90% of their capacity Aladdin, Funny Girl, Hamilton, Macbeth, MJ, Moulin Rouge !, Plaza Suite, Six, Take Me Out, The Book of Mormon Y Lion KingWith both Hedestown Y a man of music In the SRO.

At the other end of the spectrum were shows that ran on a few empty seats (often despite heavy criticism): a girl from the north It took $ 304,809 to fill 56% of the seats; POTUS It was 58% of capacity, revenue $ 529,449; Mr. Saturday night It was 70% of capacity at $ 818,982; hangers, 49% capacity, $ 306,868; Y fruit70% capacity $ 342,174. paradise square It was 57% of the capacity, revenue $ 241,952.

Both Deal Y For black girls who have thought about suicide / when the rainbow is enough There was an increase (the first entry was $ 726,010 with 76% vacancies, the second – $ 339,177 and 72%).

There were 35 products reported on Broadway last week Aladdin; American buffalo; cockroach juice; Birthday candles; Book of Mormon; Chicago; come from afar; Deal; Dear Evan Hansen; For black girls who have thought about suicide / when the rainbow is enough; funny Girl; A girl from a northern country; Chief town; Hamilton; hangers; Harry Potter and the Curse; How I learned to drive; Lion King; MJ; Წუთები; Moulin Rouge! Mr. Saturday night; Mrs Dutfair; A man of music; Piazza del Paradiso; ᲝPerry’s Ghost; Plaza Suite; I COULD; Six; The skin of our teeth; strange cycle; Pick me up; თინა; Y Bad.

All data courtesy of the Broadway League.