After a record-breaking Thanksgiving week, box office receipts returned to a more normal level, with numerous shows experiencing six-figure drops. Two bright spots were departing star vehicles: Jude Law’s Hamlet topped the magic $1 million mark in its final week at the Broadhurst Theatre, just missing the frontrunners list among grosses and ranking #4 in percentage of capacity. Likewise, A Steady Rain, which departs after a final charity performance, raked in almost $1.3 million in its final week at the Schoenfeld Theatre. (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will certainly miss Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, raised thousands for charity every night by auctioning their shirts during the curtain call.) Also making a big jump as the month of December began was White Christmas, which rounded out the $1 million club at the Marquis Theatre.
Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending December 6:
FRONTRUNNERS (By Gross)
1. Wicked ($1,535,600)
2. Billy Elliot ($1,426,947)
3. The Lion King ($1,356,260)
4. A Steady Rain ($1,292,210)
5. Jersey Boys ($1,226,872)
UNDERDOGS (By Gross)
5. Superior Donuts ($226,785)
4. In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play ($226,704)
3. The 39 Steps ($179,841)
2. Oleanna ($163,737)
1. The Royal Family ($148,120)
FRONTRUNNERS (By Capacity)
1. A Steady Rain (101.19%)
2. Jersey Boys (100.98%)
3. Billy Elliot (97.70%)
4. Hamlet (96.38%)
5. A Little Night Music (95.60%)*
UNDERDOGS (By Capacity)
5. Burn the Floor (57.50%)
4. In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play (57.49%)
3. Ragtime (57.04%)
2. Oleanna (51.06%)
1. Superior Donuts (48.23%)
*Number based on seven preview performances.
Data provided by the Broadway League.