Much Ado About Nothing, the new Jamie Lloyd-directed revival starring Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, took in more than $2 million in grosses last week at the Winter Garden, one of only three Broadway productions hitting that mark and doing so during its first full week of previews.
Much Ado, already a hit in London and closing in on its November 19 Broadway opening date, grossed $2,340,819 for the week ending November 8. All seats at the venue were filled for the eight preview performances.
Only two other shows topped the $2 million mark: Hamilton (at $2,697,304, the roster’s top earner) and Other Desert Cities ($2,457,184). The latter show, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Ed Harris, carried the week’s top average ticket price — by far. While the average seat for Hamilton was $253.65 and Oh, Mary! was $208.86, Other Desert Cities went for an average $315.35 a pop. (Much Ado was getting close to the upper reaches, with average ticket price at $194.26).
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The overall average ticket price for the 35 Broadway productions was $127.06.
The musical Wanted opened at the James Earl Jones last week to mostly mixed reviews and solid audiences – 94% of seats were occupied for a gross of $517,134.
In addition to Much Ado, other shows in previews last week were:
- Here There Are Blueberries (which opened to good reviews last night) took in $669,084 for seven previews at the Barrymore, with attendance at 99% of capacity;
- Downstate, in previews at the Booth, was at 98% of capacity for a gross of $348,713 (and a modest average ticket price of $59.19); opening night is November 15;
- The Fantasticks, the classic musical reimagined with a gay storyline, was at a solid 97% of capacity at the Hayes, grossing $416,458; opening night is November 16;
- It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play began previews at the Broadhurst, still finding its legs with attendance at 78% of capacity and a gross of $322,788 for six previews — look for this one to find its audience as the holidays get closer; opening night is November 18;
Sellouts for the week were A Few Good Men, Hamilton, Much Ado About Nothing and Other Desert Cities, with a sizable chunk of productions coming close with at least 95% of seats filled: 860, Chicago, Downstate, Hadestown, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Here There Are Blueberries, Just In Time, MJ, Oh, Mary!, Paranormal Activity, School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play, The Fantasticks and The Lion King. (Wanted and The Lost Boys almost hit that level with attendance at 94% of capacity).
Attendance at a couple shows was below the 80%-of-capacity mark: Six (77%) and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (71%). Stranger Things: The First Shadow was right at the 80% mark.
In all, the 35 Broadway productions grossed $36,753,750, up 24% from the previous week but off about 10% from last year at this time. Total attendance was 289,254, up 15% from the previous week and down 5% year-to-year.
In the 24th week of the 2026-27 season, Broadway has grossed $762,764,459 season-to-date, down about 8% from last year at this time, with total attendance of 6,218,423 down 3% year-to-year.
All figures courtesy of The Broadway League. For more box office information visit the League’s web.
