Broadway grosses fall 11% in week of Nor'easter, with Hamilton still on top
Broadway grosses and attendance fell about 11% in the week ending Sept. 27, which coincided with a Nor'easter. Hamilton led the earners, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child rebounded.
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The story, neutrally told
Broadway grosses fell 11% in the week ending September 27, as a Nor'easter hit New York. DeadlineN “Broadway box office dropped by 11% last week as New York suffered a decidedly soggy Nor’easter weekend.” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Broadway attendance and capacity took a plunge last week, with both dropping about 11 percent from the prior week.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Deadline put the total at $24,093,388 across 26 productions, against $27,070,361 the week before, with all but three shows seeing a drop. DeadlineN “All but three of the 26 productions on the boards last week saw a drop in grosses from the previous week” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood Reporter said the storm led to a state of emergency in several New York areas. It also noted that the week followed the end of the Broadway Week discount promotion. The Hollywood ReporterLC “a state of emergency in several New York areas” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Hamilton was the top earner at about $2.6 million, ahead of The Lion King at about $1.7 million. DeadlineN “The musical grossed a whopping $2,608,571, easily besting runner up The Lion King‘s $1,700,873.” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Hamilton was the highest grossing show last week, with $2.6 million, followed by The Lion King with $1.7 million.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the biggest gainer, up about $600,000 to about $1.6 million, as Tom Felton returned after a week off. DeadlineN “Grosses for his return week were $1,573,469, a jump over the previous week of $607,271.” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “as Tom Felton returned to his role in the play after a scheduled absence” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Paranormal Activity also rose, to just over $870,000, though the prior week included a largely comped gala performance. DeadlineN “the spooky play grossed $871,364, a jump of $85,939 over the previous gala week.” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “the prior week did also include a fully comped gala opening” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
The Hollywood Reporter singled out Wicked, down more than $290,000 to $1 million, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow, down close to $250,000. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Wicked saw one of the biggest downturns, down more than $290,000 from the prior week, to $1 million” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Roundabout's The Imaginary Invalid began previews at 94% capacity, with an October 22 opening. DeadlineN “filling 94% of seats for three previews for a take of $183,153” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “The play saw 94 percent capacity across its first three previews” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Deadline added that the season-to-date gross of $565,480,589 is down about 7% from last year. DeadlineN “down about 7% from last year at this time” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A straightforward trade report that leads with the 11% drop and ties it to the storm and the end of the Broadway Week discount promotion.
- Emphasis
- Attendance and capacity drops, the state of emergency, and the biggest decliners such as Wicked and Stranger Things.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the total gross figures or the season-to-date comparison.
- Charged language
- “took a plunge”
- For example
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“Broadway attendance and capacity took a plunge last week, with both dropping about 11 percent from the prior week.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A chatty box office column that leads with the weather and then goes through the winners, the top five and the season totals.
- Emphasis
- Exact totals, the three shows that rose, star casting returns (Felton, Christopher Jackson) and season-to-date figures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Broadway Week promotion ending or the state of emergency, and does not single out the biggest decliners such as Wicked.
- Charged language
- “Blame it on the rain?”“decidedly soggy”“whopping”
- For example
-
“Blame it on the rain? Broadway box office dropped by 11% last week as New York suffered a decidedly soggy Nor’easter weekend.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Grosses and attendance fell about 11% week on week.
- Hamilton topped the chart, followed by The Lion King.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child rebounded with Tom Felton's return.
- Paranormal Activity rose despite the storm, with the prior week's comped gala depressing its comparison.
- The Imaginary Invalid began previews at 94% capacity.
Left1 article
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Broadway Box Office: Grosses Drop 11 Percent Amid New England Nor’Easter
Neutral Concise business report that explains the drop through the storm and the end of a discount promotion, and highlights big decliners.
Centre1 article
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Mixed Light, upbeat column that treats the drop as weather-related and celebrates returning stars and top earners.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 29 Sep 20:10 First DeadlineN ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’ Rebounds With Tom Felton; Christopher Jackson Keeps ‘Hamilton’ On Top – Broadway Box Office
- 29 Sep 20:39 +28m The Hollywood ReporterLC Broadway Box Office: Grosses Drop 11 Percent Amid New England Nor’Easter
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.