Broadway Box Office: ‘Other Desert Cities’ Sees Strong Start With $1.9 Million

Other Desert Cities, with a star-studded cast including Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Allison Janney, got a very strong start on Broadway last week, pulling in close to $1.9 million across seven previews.

Capacity at the Hudson Theatre was close to 100 percent, but the strong tally was also due to the average ticket price of $275, the highest on Broadway last week. Ed Harris, Joe Keery and Lily Rabe also star in the play, set to open Oct. 18.

Billy Crystal’s solo show 860, inspired by the loss of his home to the California wildfires, also began previews last week, with a strong $854,574 across five performances. The show played to 83 percent capacity with an average ticket price of $159.

Hamilton was the highest grossing production, with $2.7 million, followed by Other Desert Cities, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with $1.7 million. MJ followed with $1.6 million, with The Lion King as the fifth highest grossing, with $1.5 million. Oh, Mary!, starring Bowen Yang, also remains a high earner, with $1.2 million last week.

School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play opened at the Friedman Theatre Sept. 28 to positive reviews. The play brought in $351,072 in its opening week and played to 96 percent capacity.

The Imaginary Invalid, starring Bill Irwin and Rachel Bloom, played to 91 percent capacity in its second week of previews, bringing in $352,824 across seven performances.