Other Desert Cities revival sells out first preview week on Broadway with $1.88M gross
The star-led Broadway revival of Other Desert Cities grossed $1,879,441 over seven sold-out previews at the Hudson in the week ending Oct. 4, second only to Hamilton. Billy Crystal's solo show 860 also began previews, taking $854,574.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1The Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities grossed $1,879,441 in its first week of previews, according to Deadline, which reported that all seven performances at the Hudson Theatre were sold out for the week ending October 4. DeadlineN “grossed a smashing $1,879,441 in its first week of previews. All seven performances at the Hudson were sold out for the week ending October 4.” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter described the start as very strong, with close to $1.9 million across seven previews and capacity close to 100 percent. The Hollywood ReporterLC “pulling in close to $1.9 million across seven previews.”“Capacity at the Hudson Theatre was close to 100 percent” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2The cast includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Joe Keery and Lily Rabe, and the production is directed by John Benjamin Hickey. DeadlineN “directed by John Benjamin Hickey” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Ed Harris, Joe Keery and Lily Rabe also star in the play, set to open Oct. 18.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Centre · 1The play ranked second on the weekly grosses chart behind Hamilton, which took $2,704,838 with a boost from Christopher Jackson's return to the cast. DeadlineN “second only to Hamilton‘s $2,704,838 (enjoying a boost with the return of Christopher Jackson to the cast)” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Its average ticket price of about $275 was the highest on Broadway that week, ahead of Hamilton's $251.78; the average paid admission across all 28 shows was $122.51. DeadlineN “average ticket price of $275.66 edged out usual front-runner Hamilton ($251.78) as the week’s costliest seat. (Average paid admission for all 28 shows was $122.51.)” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “the average ticket price of $275, the highest on Broadway last week” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1Deadline said Other Desert Cities and Hamilton were the week's only sell-outs, with Chicago, Hadestown, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Just in Time, MJ, Paranormal Activity, Schmigadoon! and School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play at 95% of capacity or more. DeadlineN “Those two shows were the week’s only sell-outs, though Chicago, Hadestown, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2Billy Crystal's solo show 860, inspired by the loss of his home to the California wildfires, took $854,574 across five previews at the Imperial, filling 83% of seats at an average ticket price of $159; it opens October 21. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Billy Crystal’s solo show 860, inspired by the loss of his home to the California wildfires, also began previews last week, with a strong $854,574 across five performances.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ DeadlineN “Opening night for 860 is October 21” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1The rest of the top five were Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ($1,671,543), MJ ($1,588,467) and The Lion King ($1,498,471, after a cancelled Saturday matinee cut its take by $202,402); Oh, Mary! fell $241,332 to $1,216,930. DeadlineN “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with Tom Felton as Draco, was an impressive 96% and $1,671,543.”“Oh, Mary!, which was down $241,332 to a still-healthy $1,216,930” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The Imaginary Invalid, starring Bill Irwin, took $352,824 across seven previews at the Haimes (opening October 22), while School Girls took $351,072 at 96% capacity; the two outlets differ on the Invalid's occupancy (92% versus 91%) and on whether the week was its first or second of previews. DeadlineN “doing 92% for seven previews at the Haimes for a gross of $352,824” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “played to 91 percent capacity in its second week of previews” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Centre · 1Across Broadway, the 28 productions grossed $27,735,569, up 15% on the previous week but down 12% on a year earlier, with attendance of 226,390; season-to-date grosses are $593,216,158, down about 7% year on year. DeadlineN “the 28 Broadway productions grossed $27,735,569 for the week ending October 4, a jump of 15% over the previous week but down 12% over last year at this time.”“Broadway has grossed $593,216,158 season-to-date, down about 7% from last year at this time” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline noted that Six, Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) were at about 65-68% capacity and have posted closing dates. DeadlineN “All three productions have posted closing dates: November 29 for Two Strangers, and January 3, 2027, for both Six and Stranger Things.” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A shorter box-office item framing Other Desert Cities' start as strong, with attention to its star cast and ticket prices.
- Emphasis
- Star power, the record average ticket price, 860's wildfire inspiration, top-five earners.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the exact $1,879,441 figure, the full sell-out claim, the overall market totals and the year-on-year decline.
- Charged language
- “very strong”“strong start”
- For example
-
“got a very strong start on Broadway last week” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A full weekly Broadway box-office roundup, led by the Other Desert Cities sell-out and Billy Crystal's 860, with a broad market overview.
- Emphasis
- Sell-outs, rankings, per-show capacity and grosses, week-on-week and year-on-year totals, closing dates.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give 860's average ticket price or Other Desert Cities' opening date.
- Charged language
- “smashing”
- For example
-
“grossed a smashing $1,879,441 in its first week of previews.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Other Desert Cities grossed about $1.9 million in seven first-week previews at the Hudson Theatre.
- Its average ticket price of about $275 was Broadway's highest that week.
- Hamilton was the top-grossing show at about $2.7 million.
- Billy Crystal's 860 took $854,574 across five previews at 83% capacity.
- School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play grossed $351,072 at 96% capacity.
Where accounts differ
-
Imaginary Invalid's occupancy and preview week
- Left
- The Hollywood Reporter: 91% capacity, in its second week of previews.
- Centre
- Deadline: 92% capacity, and lists it as new to the roster this week.
-
Whether Other Desert Cities fully sold out
- Left
- The Hollywood Reporter: capacity close to 100 percent.
- Centre
- Deadline: all seven performances sold out.
Other Desert Cities other
Presented by both outlets as a star-driven hit of the new Broadway season, near or at capacity with the costliest tickets.
“All seven performances at the Hudson were sold out for the week ending October 4.” — Deadline
“the strong tally was also due to the average ticket price of $275” — The Hollywood Reporter
Billy Crystal person
His solo show 860 is reported as a strong preview start, though at lower capacity than Other Desert Cities.
“The show played to 83 percent capacity with an average ticket price of $159.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Julia Louis-Dreyfus person
Named as the lead of the cast in both outlets' coverage of the play's strong start.
“with a star-studded cast including Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Allison Janney” — The Hollywood Reporter
Left1 article
-
Broadway Box Office: ‘Other Desert Cities’ Sees Strong Start With $1.9 Million
Sympathetic Concise report that presents the preview week as a strong start, crediting cast and pricing.
Centre1 article
-
Celebratory Detailed roundup that celebrates the sell-out and places it within the whole market's gains and year-on-year slump.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 6 Oct 20:38 First DeadlineN ‘Other Desert Cities’ With Julia Louis-Dreyfus Sells Out First Week For A $1.9M Gross; Billy Crystal’s New ‘860’ Takes $854,574 – Broadway Box Office
- 6 Oct 21:08 +30m The Hollywood ReporterLC Broadway Box Office: ‘Other Desert Cities’ Sees Strong Start With $1.9 Million
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.