Full-performance week boosts Broadway

NEW YORK -- Broadway recovered from Hurricane Irene in Week 14 (Aug. 29-Sept. 4), with grosses rebounding and every production up to a full eight-performance week. But there was evidence of the coming slowdown, with some shows posting receipts that didn't reach the heights of earlier this summer. Still, five tuners made more than $1 million each, and the one show in previews, "Follies" ($806,875), gained enough to land in the top 10 for the first time.Whereas new-minted juggernauts like "The Book of Mormon" ($1,272,792) and enduring chart-toppers such as "Wicked" ($1,602,104) stayed robust, other productions proved more vulnerable to the late-summer slippage.A trio of shows played their final perfs, exiting prior to the difficult back-to-school sales climate that hits Broadway after Labor Day. But none of the three -- "Catch Me if You Can" ($600,545), "Baby It's You" ($407,517) and "Master Class" ($346,806) -- logged a notable boost in last-minute biz.With three tuners gone and "Hair" ($337,645) playing its final frame -- as well as the coming seasonal sales slowdown -- Broadway B.O. will continue to deflate for the next few weeks before fall's onslaught of openings.Overall cume rose $6.8 million (or 58%) to $18.5 million for 23 shows on the boards, outpacing the same week from last season, which came in at $16.1 million for 22 shows. Attendance rose to 201,396 at 78.2%, with average paid attendance rising from $88.20 to $91.63.The 21 musicals grossed $17,134,756 for 92.8 % of the Broadway total, with attendance of 188,110 at 77.2% capacity and average paid admission of $91.09.The two plays grossed $1,320,126 for 7.2% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 13,286 at 97.1% capacity and average paid admission of $99.36. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Watch Movies Online Free Streaming