Broadway Posts Short-Term Box-Office Rebound as High Costs Force Early Closure of Cats Revival

A week of strong grosses highlighted booming hits but also underscored that steep running costs and high ticket prices threaten new and large-cast shows.

Overview

The week ending July 12 saw Broadway grosses rise about 12% to roughly $32.9 million, with houses about 89% full and an average ticket near $121, according to industry tallies.
Hamilton led weekly receipts at roughly $2.1 million and Scott Rudin’s Death of a Salesman posted a revival-record $2.09 million, showing how established hits and star-driven revivals are carrying revenue.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball announced an early August closing despite a recent box-office uptick to about $767,000 and falling capacity, highlighting that higher ticket prices do not guarantee a show will cover its weekly running costs.
New musicals produced mixed results — Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys had strong capacities but their grosses may still fall short of high operating expenses for large ensembles and limited runs.
Industry leaders warn this pattern, where a few blockbusters lift totals while many new works struggle, could narrow opportunities for new musicals unless producers, unions, and venues address costs and pricing.