Blizzard Blasts Broadway Box Office, But One Star Shines Through!
New York City was hit by a serious winter storm, and it definitely put a chill on Broadway ticket sales last week. Imagine trying to get to a show when the city is buried in snow – it's no surprise that 27 productions saw their box office receipts plummet by a significant 17% compared to the week before. The harsh weather meant canceled performances and a general reluctance for theatergoers to venture out, leading to a tough week for many.
When all was said and done, the total earnings for the week ending March 1st dropped to $26,036,589. This is a noticeable dip from the previous week's $32 million. Not only were ticket sales down, but attendance also took a hit, falling by 8% to 221,567 people. It seems the snow was a powerful force keeping audiences at home.
Even the average ticket price felt the cold snap, dropping from $130.38 the week prior to $117.51. This means not only were fewer people buying tickets, but the tickets they did buy were, on average, cheaper.
But here's where it gets particularly tough for some shows: Productions that had scheduled performances on Monday evenings were especially hard-hit. The blizzard on February 22nd led to canceled Monday shows. For these shows, which only managed seven performances instead of the usual eight, the financial impact was substantial. For example, the ever-popular 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' saw its earnings decrease by $411,508, bringing in $2,159,398. Similarly, 'Six: The Musical' was down $256,190 to $440,849, and 'The Great Gatsby' dropped by $473,715 to $673,576.
In total, a whopping 24 out of the 27 Broadway shows reported a noticeable decline in their box office performance. And this is the part most people miss...
However, not every show was swept away by the blizzard's impact! Three productions managed to defy the snowy odds and even saw their earnings increase. 'Chess' benefited from the return of star Lea Michele after a vacation, raking in an extra $381,595 for a total of $1,166,962. 'Hadestown' had a strong final week with its principal cast, including Jack Wolfe, and saw an increase of $160,566, reaching $1,303,532.
And then there's Daniel Radcliffe! In 'Every Brilliant Thing', even with a canceled Monday performance, the show experienced an incredible surge, jumping by $676,388 to an impressive $980,815. This was a significant boost from the previous week when the play was still in its early preview stages. 'Every Brilliant Thing' also achieved an outstanding 98% capacity during this snowy week, filling almost every seat at the Hudson Theatre.
Other shows also showed remarkable resilience. 'Chicago', featuring Whitney Leavitt, dropped only a modest $59,706 to $1,181,277, with about 98% of seats filled. 'Hadestown', 'Hamilton', 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child', and 'Just in Time' were complete sell-outs. 'Ragtime', much like 'Chicago' and 'Every Brilliant Thing', also managed to sell 98% of its available seats. Musicals like 'Moulin Rouge!', 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow', 'The Lion King', 'The Outsiders', and 'Wicked' all reported selling at least 90% of their seats.
But for some, the weather was a clear deterrent. Shows like '& Juliet' dropped from 95% to 85% capacity, 'Aladdin' from 97% to 87%, and 'Buena Vista Social Club' from 96% to 85%. Similar drops were observed for 'Death Becomes Her', 'Maybe Happy Ending', 'MJ', 'Oh, Mary!', 'Operation Mincemeat', 'Six', 'The Book of Mormon', 'The Great Gatsby', and 'Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)'.
The top five highest-grossing shows for the week were: 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' ($2,159,398), 'Hamilton' ($1,756,444), 'Just in Time' ($1,484,852), 'The Lion King' ($1,326,036), and 'Wicked' ($1,307,242).
Looking at the season so far (the 40th week of the 2025-26 season), Broadway has grossed a remarkable $1,451,715,100, which is about 7% higher than this time last year. Attendance is also up by 3%, with a total of 10,879,802 people having attended shows.
Now, here's something to ponder: While the blizzard clearly impacted many shows, Daniel Radcliffe's star power in 'Every Brilliant Thing' seemed to create a sort of magic, drawing audiences even in the worst conditions. Does this suggest that a truly captivating performance or a beloved star can overcome even the most challenging external factors? Or is it simply a testament to the resilience of Broadway's most dedicated fans? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
