Broadway Continues Upward Trend in Audience Growth, Up 13% in 2014

The Broadway League reports robust holiday attendance and grosses and a strong start to 2015. The week ending December 28, 2014 and the week ending January 4, 2015 were the highest attended and highest grossing on Broadway in recorded history.

“For the last 12 months, we’ve seen an exciting increase of 13% in Broadway attendance, demonstrating that our producers are giving audiences a variety of plays and musicals to please many tastes. Season-to-date, attendance is up 14%, following last year’s end-of-season audience increase of 5.6%,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “With record-breaking holiday weeks including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s – plus seasonal and calendar-year records, it reinforces that there really is a show for everyone. In addition to long-running favorites, audiences are enthusiastic about the new shows too.”

Broadway Celebrates Highest Grossing and Best Attended Thanksgiving Week Ever!

According to The Broadway League, week 27 of the current Broadway season (the week ending Sunday, November 30, 2014), was the highest grossing and best attended Thanksgiving week on Broadway in recorded history.

The total gross for this past week, ending November 30, 2014, was $34,121,642 (an increase of $2.6 million from last season) and total attendance was 284,569 (an increase of 23,513 from last season).

"This Thanksgiving, there’s something for everyone! The cornucopia of our Broadway menu included a variety of plays and musicals to please many tastes. The increase in family-friendly shows combined with powerful new plays representing diverse topics adds spice to our season," said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. "There were 36 shows playing, compared to 32 last year during the same week. We are thankful that Broadway continues to be culturally relevant, inspirational, and entertaining!"

Broadway to Dim Its Lights on Friday for Award-Winning Director Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of acclaimed director, producer, writer, and performer Mike Nichols, who died on Wednesday evening at age 83. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory on Friday, November 21st, at exactly 7:45 p.m. for one minute.

Mr. Nichols was among the most celebrated people in the history of show business, one of only a handful of people to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. He has won more Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play than any other individual. His six nods were for "Barefoot in the Park" (1964), "Luv" and "The Odd Couple" (1965), "Plaza Suite" (1968), "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" (1972), "The Real Thing" (1984), and Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" (2012). He has also won in other categories for directing the musical Monty Python's "Spamalot" (2005), and for producing "Annie" (1977) and "The Real Thing" (1984) under the company he founded, Icarus Productions, making it a total of nine Tony Award wins. He also received eight additional nominations.

88th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Will Feature Broadway Performances and a Sneak Preview of NBC's 'Peter Pan Live!'

NBC and Macy's today announced the lineup of the best of Broadway set to perform at the 88th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. On Thursday, November 27, Broadway's best shows will take to the streets of New York for special performances on the telecast of the annual spectacle (9 a.m.-noon in all time zones.)

Set for Thanksgiving Day are high-stepping numbers from this season's Tony Award-winning Best Musical "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," Sting's "The Last Ship," "On the Town," "Side Show," and "Finding Neverland." The Broadway spectacle will also feature a special sneak preview performance from NBC's "Peter Pan Live!" which premieres December 4.

For more than 35 years, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been the premier showcase for Broadway talent, casting a major spotlight on its brightest stars and the best musicals hitting the theater boards in New York City. This year is no different, with Broadway vets including Idina Menzel ("If/Then," "Wicked," "Rent"), Sting ("3 Penny Opera") performing with the cast of "The Last Ship," and Nick Jonas ("How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Les Misérables") also joining the festivities.

Routinely one of the highest-viewed entertainment spectacles with more than 50 million viewers stemming from its original and encore presentations, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC will also feature a return of the Radio City Rockettes.

Judith Light to Serve as National Ambassador of 2015 'Kids' Night on Broadway'

Two-time Tony Award winner Judith Light will serve as the 2015 "Kids' Night on Broadway" National Ambassador. The 19th "Kids' Night on Broadway" will take place Friday, January 9, 2015 to Thursday, January 15, 2015.

"Broadway has always been and always will be such an important part of my life. I love the magic that happens on the stage, the joy of bringing unique and creative stories to life, and the opportunity to participate in such a welcoming, friendly community that shares a deep passion for the art of theatre," said Light. "I'm also thrilled that we can bring a focus to LGBT equality through the collaboration with Point Foundation, an organization deserving of recognition for their efforts to promote the continued education of LGBT students."

2015 'Kids' Night on Broadway' Dates Announced

The Broadway League announced today that the dates for the 2015 Kids' Night on Broadway will be from Friday, January 9, 2015 to Thursday, January 15, 2015 in New York City. Tickets to participating shows will be available to the public on Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at 11 a.m. ET.

Kids' Night on Broadway is an annual event when kids ages 6 to 18 can see participating Broadway shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. A Kids' Night on BroadwayKids; Night on Broadway continues to enrich and develop the theatre experience for children, pre-teens and teens,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “Kids' Night on Broadway educates and inspires creativity that truly benefits the future of Broadway.”

Broadway to Dim Its Lights Friday Night in Memory of Elaine Stritch

The Broadway community mourns the loss of actress and singer Elaine Stritch, who passed away today at age 89. The marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in her memory on Friday, July 18th, at exactly 7:45 p.m. for one minute.

The American actress and singer was best known for her work on Broadway. The four-time Tony Award nominee has appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals, feature films, and many television programs. She also starred in several West End productions in London.

Broadway Contributed Nearly $12 Billion to New York City During 2012-2013 Season

The Broadway League released the 2012-2013 Broadway’s Economic Contribution to New York City report, the ninth biennial report in this series. The report measures the full economic impact of spending by Broadway production companies, theatre operators and those visitors drawn to NYC by Broadway. As the official source for statistical information about Broadway theatre productions in the United States, The Broadway League's report demonstrates that Broadway not only offers entertainment, art and culture, but that it is an industry whose financial contributions nourish the economy of its city and state.

Idina Menzel Named National Ambassador of "Kids' Night on Broadway"

The Broadway League announced that IDINA MENZEL from Broadway's new musical If/Then will serve as the 2014 KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY National Ambassador. The 18th KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY will take place Monday, February 24, 2014 to Sunday, March 2, 2014.

"When I first went to Broadway, it was a life-changing experience. There's something magical about walking through the theatre district and seeing the marquees and the lights. Nothing compares to a live Broadway performance! As an adult, I still have that nostalgic feeling I had as a child. It's important that kids come to theatre because they get to see life through different characters. The arts are so important in general," said Idina Menzel, "and I'm so grateful that my career awards me with so many special opportunities to connect with young people. I'm honored to be the Kids' Night on Broadway National Ambassador and extra thrilled that this year's cause-related component is our arts-centered foundation, A Broader Way, which enables expression, empowerment, and enlightenment. As does Broadway."