After a record-setting week for several Broadway shows between Christmas and New Year's Eve, the traditional post-holiday blues hit the theater district on Sunday, with five productions closing â€" including two, the musical “Chaplin†and the play “Dead Accounts,†that had particularly struggled to sell tickets. Producers often shutter shows right after the new year, when the profitable holiday season gives way to the reliably coldest months â€" January and February â€" on the Broadway calendar.
“Dead Accounts,†which starred Katie Holmes and Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz, grossed only $254,255 in its final week of performances, or 26 percent of the maximum possible gross. “Chaplin†went o ut on a higher note, grossing $509,381, or 52 percent of its maximum potential.
The three other productions that ended Sunday were the holiday musical “Elf,†the new play “Grace,†and the long-running hit “War Horse,†which won the Tony Award for best play in 2011. “Evita,†“Glengarry Glen Ross,†“Golden Boy,†and “Peter and the Starcatcher†will close later in January. (“Peter†is expected to re-open Off Broadway in March.)
Broadway's two top-grossing shows, “Wicked†and “The Lion King,†each took in more than $2 million last week, a healthy haul for early January, while another hit, “The Book of Mormon,†broke the box office record at the Eugene O'Neill Theater for the 44th time, grossing $1,833,432.
Overall Broadway musicals and plays grossed $24.5 million last week, compared to $24 million for the comparable week last season.
