Broadway box office rose 32% due to star shows

Broadway's box office saw a significant boost last week due to the introduction of several high-profile productions. Among these was "Good Night, and Good Luck," starring George Clooney, which began previews and helped draw audiences. The production featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal set a record with a weekly gross of $2.82 million. This figure is $6,000 more than the previous week. The average ticket price for this play remains high at $338.83, and it has consistently filled the Barrymore Theatre completely. George Clooney's play earned an impressive $2.36 million during its first five previews at the Winter Garden Theatre. It had the second-highest average ticket price for the week at $303.75 and also played to full capacity. This show is set to officially open on March 31. Another new show, starring Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr, grossed $1.9 million during its first seven previews at the Palace Theatre. It broke the venue's box office record, with an average ticket price of $207.40, also performing to full capacity and opening on March 31. Sarah Snook's one-woman show brought in $848,904 during its first six previews. It played to a full house at the Music Box Theater, with an average ticket price of $143.93. This production will also open on March 31. Overall, Broadway's gross earnings increased by 32 percent compared to the previous week, largely due to these new productions. As March and April approach, many more shows are expected to open before the Tony Awards eligibility deadline on April 27. Other new productions include a musical based on an NBC series and another musical that is set to open soon, also showing strong audience interest.