BroadwayRadio: Broadway Grosses Report – April 1, 2026

Host: Matt Tammanini
Date: April 1, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode delivers an in-depth breakdown of the latest Broadway box office figures for the week ending March 29, 2026, and covers key news stories—including Megan Thee Stallion's headline-making week in “Moulin Rouge!” and fresh updates on new musicals and off-Broadway happenings. The analysis is detailed, with comparisons to previous years and attention to both financial and attendance highlights.
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Main Themes and Purpose

• Box Office Analysis: Detailed examination of Broadway grosses, attendance, average ticket prices, and show capacities for the most recent reporting week.
• Industry News: Major casting updates, notable performance incidents, and announcements of new musical adaptations.
• Spotlight on Stars: Focus on Megan Thee Stallion’s Broadway turn, her hospitalization, and the resulting box office impact.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Broadway Grosses & Attendance Breakdown

[00:01–03:45]

• Overall Snapshot:
  • 36 shows running (with 5 new; similar to last year’s volume).
  • Box office: $38,657,410 (up 5% week-over-week but down ~$5 million year-over-year).
  • Attendance: 294,349 (up 8% over last week, down 5% from last year).
  • Average ticket price: $131.33 (down from last week and last year).
• Spring Break Effect: A minor attendance boost attributed to spring break, with more expected around Easter.
• Top Shows by Gross:
  • “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” – $2,576,039 (highest gross)
  • “Hamilton” – $2.3 million
  • “Just In Time” (Jonathan Groff’s final week) – $2,066,446 (noted production best)
  • “The Lion King” – $1.9 million (close to top 3)
  • “Wicked” – $1.79 million (increase tied to notable casting)
• Notable Movements:
  • "Moulin Rouge!" – $1.6 million, up nearly $450K (credit: Megan Thee Stallion's casting)
  • "Giant" (opening week) – $958,000 from 7 shows (with comps for opening night).

Quote Highlight

• "Box office returns came in at $38,657,410, up 5% over the previous week, but down about 5 million from last year for the reasons I just talked about.” —Matt Tammanini [00:51]

2. New Shows on Broadway: Debuts and Previews

[03:45–06:10]

• Five New Shows:
  • “Titanic” – 6 previews; $626,789 (projected $836K for 8 shows).
  • “The Rocky Horror Show” – 4 performances; $460,121 (projected $920K for 8).
  • “Fallen Angels” (Noel Coward revival) – 3 performances; $197,395 (projected $526K).
  • “Beaches” – 2 performances; $217,743 (projected $871K).
  • “The Lost Boys” – 2 performances; $489,214 (projected $1.96M; biggest new show debut).
• Seasonal Context:
  • Broadway to date: $1.59 billion gross (up 7% from previous season)
  • Attendance: nearly 12 million (up 3%)
  • 28 of 36 shows played to at least 90% capacity.
  • Precision: “Rocky Horror Show,” “Lost Boys,” and “Ragtime” all at 100% capacity.
  • “Hamilton” at a palindromic 101.01%, while “Just In Time” leads at 103.35%.

Quote Highlight

• "I'd be interested to see what happens with Matty Morrison joining the production this week... going from one Glee star and Jonathan Groff to another Glee star and Matthew Morrison." —Matt Tammanini [06:15]

3. News Section: Megan Thee Stallion's Broadway Run and Health Scare

[06:15–08:00]

• Megan Thee Stallion Joins “Moulin Rouge!”:
  • Major box office boost attributed to her star power.
  • Incident: She was taken to the hospital after Tuesday’s performance due to exhaustion and illness.
  • Recovery: Missed Wednesday’s shows, expected back Thursday.
  • Commentary on Broadway’s challenging demands for even experienced touring artists.

Quote Highlights

• "She had to leave the performance and be taken to the hospital, where she was reportedly, quote, very ill. Apparently, she was completely worn down and run down dealing with exhaustion." —Matt Tammanini [07:00]
• "Broadway's legit, and you throw in a little bit of illness along with a tough rehearsal and performance schedule, and it can get the best of anybody." —Matt Tammanini [07:30]

4. New Musical Adaptation Announcements & Off-Broadway Updates

[08:00–10:10]

• Happy Feet Musical:

  • Announced as a stage adaptation of the Warner Bros. animated film.
  • Creative team: Director Michael Arden, book by Douglas Lyons, choreography by Ayodele Cassel, Lauren Yolango Grant, and Christopher Cree Grant.
  • Features puppetry by Basil Twist ("If you're going to do puppets, Basil Twist is who you want handling those things” [08:50]).
  • Will be a jukebox musical with songs from the films and other hits.
  • No casting or timeline announced yet.

• Warner Bros. Theater Ventures:

  • Other adaptions in progress: “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Practical Magic.”
  • Currently represented on Broadway with “Dog Day Afternoon” and “The Lost Boys.”

• Heated Rivalry: Unauthorized Musical Parody:

  • After a successful pop-up cabaret, set for an 8-week off-Broadway run at the 6th Floor Theater (formerly McKittrick Hotel), starting May 12.
  • Book and score by Dylan Mark Aurelius.
  • Cast: Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jimin Moon, Zachary Noah Peyser (out for another upcoming Broadway gig), Ryan Redmond, Cherry Torres, and Ryan Duncan.

Quote Highlight

• "You're thinking, ‘This is a movie about dancing penguins. How are they going to do that on stage?’ Well, we do know that there will be puppet design by Basil Twist..." —Matt Tammanini [08:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Changing Box Office Dynamics and Casting Moves

• "This has been a box office juggernaut over at the Circle in the Square Theater, and even better than the grosses has been its capacity... It's really actually a great standing room only theater, to be quite honest with you." —Matt Tammanini [05:55]

On Broadway's Demands for Even the Biggest Stars

• "Megan Thee Stallion knows how to do a show... but Broadway’s legit, and you throw in a little bit of illness along with a tough rehearsal and performance schedule and it can get the best of anybody." —Matt Tammanini [07:30]

On the Excitement of New Stage Adaptations

• "...if you're going to do puppets, Basil Twist is who you want handling those things. So this will be exciting to see what happens." —Matt Tammanini [08:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01: Episode introduction and high-level grosses overview
• 00:51: Year-over-year grosses, attendance, and average ticket price
• 03:45: New shows—debut grosses and projections
• 06:15: “Just In Time” capacity peaks, Glee star casting shuffle
• 07:00: Megan Thee Stallion’s health scare and Broadway’s unique demands
• 08:00: Announcement of "Happy Feet" and other adaptation projects
• 09:25: Off-Broadway update: “Heated Rivalry”

Summary Flow and Tone

Matt Tammanini delivers the report in an analytical yet conversational tone, blending concrete data with behind-the-scenes insight and industry enthusiasm. The energy remains positive, particularly when highlighting standout performances, audience enthusiasm, and Broadway’s capacity to surprise (from big star turns to unexpected new shows). The host also acknowledges the rigors of Broadway for even seasoned pop performers, lending an air of respect and camaraderie for all involved.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Broadway remains strong post-pandemic, with grosses and attendance trending up over the previous season, bolstered by new shows and star power.
• Megan Thee Stallion made a major impact on "Moulin Rouge!", both in the box office and headlines due to her brief hospitalization.
• Excitement is high for upcoming unique stage adaptations like "Happy Feet," with top creative talent attached.
• Off-Broadway continues to innovate, with works like “Heated Rivalry” expanding into longer runs.
• The casting carousel is in full swing, especially among former "Glee" cast members making Broadway waves.

For the latest box office updates, star gossip, and new musical buzz, BroadwayRadio continues to deliver a concise but comprehensive weekly snapshot of the industry.