Broadway Sees Highest-Grossing and Best Attended Season in History

The 2017–2018 season came to an end May 27.

The Great White Way took in $1.7 billion in the past year, making the 2017–2018 season the highest-grossing in Broadway history.

According to statistics released by the Broadway League, a total of 33 productions (ten musicals and 20 plays—plus three special engagements) yielded a combined $1,697,458,795, surpassing last year’s record-breaking $1.4 billion.

The landmark figure is in part due to the past season (May 22, 2017–May 27, 2018) consisting of 53 weeks instead of the standard 52; as the season is comprised of 364 days, an extra week is added to the season every seven years.

The season was also the best attended, reaching 13.79 million seats (compared to the 13.27 million last year and the 13.32 the season prior).

“It’s been a remarkably diverse season, with a wide variety of outstanding musicals and plays on Broadway that have attracted a record number of theatregoers—proving once again that there really is something for everyone on Broadway in a wide range of price points,” said Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin in a statement. “Over 80% of the shows on Broadway had an average paid admission of under $130 and more than half of the shows that played this season (60%) had an average paid admission of less than $101 .”

The season concluded over Memorial Day Weekend, with a total of 35 shows grossing $39.4 million (up over 15 percent from last year).