Broadway Box Office: ‘Other Desert Cities’ Earns $1.9M

The Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s Tony Award-winning play, ‘Other Desert Cities,’ starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Harris, Allison Janney, Joe Keery, and Lily Rabe, achieved a significant financial milestone in its opening week of previews. The production grossed $1,879,441 for the week ending October 4, with all seven performances at the Hudson Theatre selling out. This impressive figure places the play among the top earners for its initial engagement, demonstrating strong audience demand for the star-studded cast and critically acclaimed script.

‘Other Desert Cities’ centers on the complex dynamics of the Wyeth family, a wealthy and influential clan grappling with secrets and resentments. The play, which originally premiered in 2011 and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, explores themes of political ambition, family betrayal, and the struggle for truth. The current revival, directed by the acclaimed Trip Cullman, features a cast of celebrated actors, including Louis-Dreyfus in the role of Brooke Wyeth, a novelist returning home to confront her family about a memoir she is writing. Harris portrays her father, Lyman Wyeth, a former Hollywood actor and Republican operative, while Janney plays Polly Wyeth, Brooke’s aunt. Keery and Rabe round out the principal cast as Trip Wyeth, Brooke’s brother, and Silda, Polly’s sister, respectively.

In parallel, Billy Crystal’s new production, ‘860,’ also commenced its Broadway run, generating $854,574 in its first week. While not reaching the same gross as ‘Other Desert Cities,’ this figure indicates a solid opening for Crystal’s latest theatrical endeavor. The play, which is a limited engagement, is expected to draw significant attention due to Crystal’s established comedic and dramatic talent. Further details regarding the specific plot or cast of ‘860’ were not provided in the initial report, but its performance suggests a healthy interest in new theatrical offerings on Broadway.

The strong performance of both ‘Other Desert Cities’ and ‘860’ contributes to the overall robust health of the Broadway box office. The success of these productions underscores the enduring appeal of live theater, particularly when featuring well-known talent and compelling narratives. The $1.8 million gross for ‘Other Desert Cities’ in its first week of previews is a testament to the power of its cast and the enduring relevance of its themes, setting a high bar for its subsequent performances and indicating a potentially lucrative run for the production. The engagement at the Hudson Theatre is scheduled to run for a limited time, amplifying the urgency for theatergoers to secure tickets.