Get ready for a Broadway box office phenomenon! The long-running musical revival of Chicago is back with a bang, and it's all thanks to a certain 'Mormon Wives' star, Whitney Leavitt.
Chicago, the iconic John Kander-Fred Ebb classic, has been a staple on Broadway for almost three decades, and its producers, Barry and Fran Weissler, have a secret weapon up their sleeves: celebrity stunt-casting. And Leavitt, with her star power and Dancing With The Stars background, is proving to be a game-changer.
Last week, Chicago grossed a whopping $1,410,093, its biggest take since the lucrative holiday season of 2023. Leavitt, who joined the production on February 2nd, is drawing in the crowds, with the week's earnings almost doubling the non-holiday weeks of this year.
But here's where it gets interesting...
Last week was a holiday week, with Presidents Day attracting visitors and Broadway's two-for-one promotion ending. Yet, even with these factors, Chicago's earnings surpassed the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The venue was packed, with 8,565 attendees, almost reaching full capacity.
And it's not just Chicago that's thriving. Other shows, like Aladdin, Hamilton, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, saw significant gains, with increases of over $300,000. The Great Gatsby, The Lion King, and Wicked also experienced a boost, with earnings jumping by more than $400,000.
The top earners for the week were Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King, and Chess, each raking in millions.
In its final week, Marjorie Prime saw a surge in earnings, filling 95% of seats at the Hayes.
Overall, the 27 productions grossed a staggering $33,578,362 for the week ending February 15th, an 11.3% increase from the previous week and a 19% jump from last year. Attendance remained steady, with an average ticket price of $136.10, a significant increase from the previous week.
And this is the part most people miss...
Broadway's 2025-26 season, in its 38th week, has already grossed over $1.3 billion, an 8% increase from last year, with total attendance reaching over 10 million, up 3%.
So, what do you think? Is celebrity casting a clever strategy to keep Broadway thriving, or does it take away from the art of theatre? Let's discuss in the comments and share our thoughts on this controversial topic!
