Paranormal Activity Sells Out; Moulin Rouge! Tops Box Office

For the second consecutive week, the Broadway production of 'Paranormal Activity' has achieved a complete sell-out at the August Wilson Theatre. The Levi Holloway play, which began previews on August 14 and officially opened on August 21, generated a gross revenue of $729,250, even with five heavily comped press previews included. Directed by Felix Barrett, the play draws inspiration from the well-known film franchise of the same name. This sustained sell-out performance indicates strong audience demand for the theatrical adaptation of the popular horror series.

In parallel, the musical 'Moulin Rouge!' experienced a notable surge in its box office performance, largely attributed to the return of actor Aaron Tveit in the role of Christian. Tveit, who originated the role on Broadway, rejoined the production for a limited engagement, contributing to a significant uptick in ticket sales. The musical's gross revenue saw a substantial increase, reflecting the drawing power of Tveit's presence. This revitalization underscores the impact of star performers on the commercial success of Broadway shows, demonstrating how a familiar and beloved actor can re-engage audiences and drive ticket sales.

The overall Broadway box office figures for the week ending August 20, 2023, demonstrated a robust market, with total grosses reaching $35,750,738 from 34 shows playing to an average attendance of 86.4%. This figure represents a 10.4% increase in total grosses compared to the previous week. The average ticket price across all shows was $119.59, a slight increase from the prior week's $115.79. The number of tickets sold also saw an increase, rising by 7.1% to 298,912. This indicates a healthy and recovering Broadway season, with audiences actively returning to live theater performances.

Among the top-grossing productions, 'The Lion King' continued its strong performance, grossing $1,591,717. 'Wicked' also maintained its popularity, earning $1,315,279. 'Aladdin' followed with $1,131,000, and 'Hamilton' grossed $1,112,244. The revival of 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, also reported strong numbers, grossing $1,037,697. The success of these established shows, alongside the strong debut of 'Paranormal Activity' and the resurgence of 'Moulin Rouge!' with Tveit's return, paints a positive picture for the current Broadway landscape, highlighting a diverse range of productions appealing to various audience segments and demonstrating the enduring appeal of live theatrical entertainment.