Broadway's 1st Quarter Results: Summer Lovin' happened so fast.

With the end of the summer comes the end of the first 13 weeks of the Broadway season, which means it's time for us to check in and see how the grosses and attendance are stacking up so far.

And lo and behold, it looks like Santa got his seasons messed up, because we got a nice present this summer!

Grosses are up a considerable 2.9% this quarter, as compared to the first 13 weeks of last season.  Attendance notched up 1.1% as well.

This is quite a difference from the first quarter last year, when we were down 3.2% in the gross column and 9.6% in the attendance column.   

Why the difference?  Is the economy better?  Were there more tourists in town?

I think the answer is simpler than that.

In the first 13 weeks of this season, there were simply more shows.  Playing weeks were up 7.3% over last year.  

I think we'll slip back a bit this Fall, as the season looks a little light (I'm expecting a surprise closing announcement from at least one show).  However, I am still holding firm with my projection that will see modest increases in both attendance and grosses for the year . . .

. . . Especially now that Spider-Man looks like it's finally ready to cast his web.

See you in Q2!