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Variety January 22, 2008
Broadway box office bounces back'Spamalot' surges in post-holiday upswing
By GORDON COXAfter a rough post-holiday frame that saw receipts plummet, Broadway sales got a welcome uptick last week. Grosses rose by about $700,000 to an estimated $17.5 million for 31 shows on the boards -- a tally that also compares favorably with the $14.7 million for 28 shows reported over the same week last year.
One of the largest week-to-week gains was seen by "Monty Python's Spamalot" ($797,390), which looks to have benefited from the debut Jan. 18 of "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken. Both "Spamalot" and "Legally Blonde" ($668,409), seemingly correcting a bit after steep dips the prior sesh, rose by $138,000 each.
Up about $88,000, "The Color Purple" ($477,153) began to climb back up from the major slide it took in the wake of star Fantasia's recent departure. "Hairspray" ($640,692) rose by about the same amount.
The January doldrums didn't much chill the usual slate of top performers, officially led by "Wicked" ($1,371,768) and "Jersey Boys" ($1,157,164) as estimates for "Young Frankenstein" dipped to $1.26 million. Clumped together in the top 10, all three Disney offerings stayed strong, with newly opened tuner "The Little Mermaid" ($950,655) not quite hitting the same highs as long-runner "The Lion King" ($1,050,324).
"August: Osage County" ($609,017) continued to log the heftiest totals of the many plays now running, although "Rock 'n' Roll" ($437,824) and "November" ($415,166) also reported relatively healthy numbers for nontuners.
Long-runner "Rent" ($333,226) got a bump last week, during which the show announced a closing date of June 1, while the profitable run of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" ($282,053) played its final perf Sunday.
Broadway box office bounces back'Spamalot' surges in post-holiday upswing
By GORDON COXAfter a rough post-holiday frame that saw receipts plummet, Broadway sales got a welcome uptick last week. Grosses rose by about $700,000 to an estimated $17.5 million for 31 shows on the boards -- a tally that also compares favorably with the $14.7 million for 28 shows reported over the same week last year.
One of the largest week-to-week gains was seen by "Monty Python's Spamalot" ($797,390), which looks to have benefited from the debut Jan. 18 of "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken. Both "Spamalot" and "Legally Blonde" ($668,409), seemingly correcting a bit after steep dips the prior sesh, rose by $138,000 each.
Up about $88,000, "The Color Purple" ($477,153) began to climb back up from the major slide it took in the wake of star Fantasia's recent departure. "Hairspray" ($640,692) rose by about the same amount.
The January doldrums didn't much chill the usual slate of top performers, officially led by "Wicked" ($1,371,768) and "Jersey Boys" ($1,157,164) as estimates for "Young Frankenstein" dipped to $1.26 million. Clumped together in the top 10, all three Disney offerings stayed strong, with newly opened tuner "The Little Mermaid" ($950,655) not quite hitting the same highs as long-runner "The Lion King" ($1,050,324).
"August: Osage County" ($609,017) continued to log the heftiest totals of the many plays now running, although "Rock 'n' Roll" ($437,824) and "November" ($415,166) also reported relatively healthy numbers for nontuners.
Long-runner "Rent" ($333,226) got a bump last week, during which the show announced a closing date of June 1, while the profitable run of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" ($282,053) played its final perf Sunday.
Variety 8/12/08
Clay Aiken returning to Broadway
'American Idol' vet to reprise 'Spamalot' role
By GORDON COX
Claymates, get ready to head back to Broadway: "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken returns to the Rialto production of "Monty Python's Spamalot" this fall in a four-month stint.
Aiken will reprise the role of Sir Robin, which he played earlier this year in an engagement that ended May 4. David Hyde Pierce originated the part in the 2005 tuner, based on the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Aiken is one of several reality TV stars who have made their way to Broadway, along with Fantasia Barrino ("The Color Purple") and Taylor Hicks ("Grease").
His previous run in "Spamalot" had a noticeable effect on box office. Weekly sales for the tuner surged the week Aiken joined the cast and took a steep tumble the frame after he departed.
Aiken returns to "Spamalot" Sept. 19-Jan. 4.
Clay Aiken returning to Broadway
'American Idol' vet to reprise 'Spamalot' role
By GORDON COX
Claymates, get ready to head back to Broadway: "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken returns to the Rialto production of "Monty Python's Spamalot" this fall in a four-month stint.
Aiken will reprise the role of Sir Robin, which he played earlier this year in an engagement that ended May 4. David Hyde Pierce originated the part in the 2005 tuner, based on the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Aiken is one of several reality TV stars who have made their way to Broadway, along with Fantasia Barrino ("The Color Purple") and Taylor Hicks ("Grease").
His previous run in "Spamalot" had a noticeable effect on box office. Weekly sales for the tuner surged the week Aiken joined the cast and took a steep tumble the frame after he departed.
Aiken returns to "Spamalot" Sept. 19-Jan. 4.
Variety 9/22/08
Sons' boosts Broadway box office
"Monty Python's Spamalot" ($494,410) bumped up close to $80,000 to log the biggest jump of the week, with increased sales attributable in part to the return of Clay Aiken Sept. 19.
Sons' boosts Broadway box office
"Monty Python's Spamalot" ($494,410) bumped up close to $80,000 to log the biggest jump of the week, with increased sales attributable in part to the return of Clay Aiken Sept. 19.
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