BroadwayRadio: Broadway Grosses Report – January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Matt Tamnini, provides an in-depth analysis of the Broadway grosses for the week ending January 11, 2026. Coming down from the holiday highs, the episode assesses the state of box office numbers, notable show performances, changes compared to previous years and weeks, capacity trends, and the implications of upcoming "Two-for-One Broadway Week" promotions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Post-Holiday Grosses Overview

• 31 shows played Broadway during the week, grossing a total of $34,320,229.

• This gross is down 34% (about $18 million) from the previous week (ending January 4, 2026), due to holiday crowds dissipating and two show closures.

• However, compared to the same week last year, grosses are up 7% (about $2.2 million).

  “It was a significant decline over the previous week … but overall that is still fairly good because compared to the same period … this is actually up 7% in the grosses.”
  — Matt Tamnini [00:37]

Attendance & Ticket Prices

• Total weekly attendance: 272,911 (down 13% week-to-week, but up year-on-year).

• Average ticket price: $125.76 (down over $40 from holiday week peak).

  “The average ticket price dropped over 40 bucks from the holiday week to come in at $125.76.”
  — Matt Tamnini [01:35]

Top Grossing Shows

• Multiple shows remain north of $2 million:

  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (with Tom Felton): $2,648,036
  • Hamilton: $2.2 million
  • Wicked: $2,075,000
  • Mamma Mia: $1.78 million
  • The Lion King: $1.71 million

• Other million-dollar club members include: Chess, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Just In Time, Ragtime, MJ, The Great Gatsby, Aladdin, Death Becomes Her, The Outsiders, and nearly Happy Ending and Oh Mary.

  “As I had predicted … we are seeing multiple shows north of $2 million on a regular basis and that continued last week…”
  — Matt Tamnini [01:42]

Underperformers & Special Cases

• Bug:

  • Grossed $317,330, the lowest of the week—a drop of about $129,500, likely due to two cancelled performances from cast illness and opening night disruptions.

    “Bug had a fairly significant decline … but they had two cancellations last week due to illnesses in the cast and they also had Opening night.”
    — Matt Tamnini [02:37]

Week-Over-Week Movers

• Only three shows saw a week-over-week increase—all plays, possibly reflecting broader audience patterns now that tourism has dipped post-holiday:

  • Oedipus:
    +$51,000 to $864,706.

  • Gratefully Liberation:
    Biggest jump: +$214,311 to $639,035 (its Broadway high to date).

    • Noted for “starting to gain some momentum” as it heads to closing on February 1.

    • Potential contender for the Tony.

    • Marketing praised, but timing of holiday run made things “hard for this show.”

      “It does feel like this is starting to gain some momentum ... to see it picking up momentum now is gratifying. Not only because you want good things to succeed, but also could portend a little bit more of awards consideration.”
      — Matt Tamnini [03:10–04:00]

  • Marjorie Prime:
    +$29,000 to $382,918.

    • Produced by Second Stage Theater.

Season-to-Date Stats

• Week 33 of the 2025–2026 Season

  • Total gross so far: $1,233,962,457 (up 8% over previous year).
  • Total attendance so far: 9,117,740 (up 3%).

  “This was the 33rd week of the 2526 Broadway season and season to date has grossed $1,233,962,457.”
  — Matt Tamnini [04:27]

Theatre Seat Occupancy & Capacity

• 92% seat fill rate across Broadway.

• 21 out of 31 shows played at 90% capacity or higher.

• Top crowd-fillers:

  • At or just above 100%: Wicked, Ragtime, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
  • Between 100–101%: Hadestown, Mamma Mia, Hamilton
  • Just In Time peaked at 102.83% capacity.

  “Three were either right at or just barely above 100% capacity… Just In Time was almost lapping the field at 102.83% capacity.”
  — Matt Tamnini [05:05]

Upcoming: "Two-for-One Broadway Week"

• Runs January 20 – February 12, 2026.

  • Offers two tickets for the price of one at regular price.
  • Primarily targets non-frequent theatergoers and the tri-state local audience.
  • Historically not always the best discount compared to other methods (mailers, TKTS, TDF).
  • Expected to boost both attendance and grosses through increased accessibility.

  “It is certainly an opportunity to grab more people from outside the regular theater going audience to come in and see shows.”
  — Matt Tamnini [06:06]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On post-holiday drop:

  “That was a significant decline over over the previous week that ended on January 4th … but overall that is still fairly good because compared to the same period … this is actually up 7% in the grosses.”
  — Matt Tamnini [00:37]

• On Gratefully Liberation’s surge:

  “I have thought that the marketing for the show has been pretty good throughout. I think the timing has just been really hard for this show. … To see it picking up momentum now is gratifying… could portend a little bit more of awards consideration…”
  — Matt Tamnini [03:23–04:10]

• On upcoming Broadway Week:

  “While that is certainly a great way for people to get in to see shows … it sometimes is not as big of a discount as you might think. But it is certainly an opportunity to grab more people from outside the regular theater going audience to come in and see shows.”
  — Matt Tamnini [06:04]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------| | 00:31 | Episode begins – Intro to Grosses Report | | 01:35 | Dramatic post-holiday drop; year-over-year up | | 01:42 | Million-dollar shows ranked | | 02:37 | "Bug" performance troubles and low gross | | 03:10–04:00 | Week-over-week gainers: Oedipus, Liberation | | 04:27 | Season-to-date numbers | | 05:05 | Seat-fill stats, most in-demand shows | | 06:06 | Preview of "Two-for-One Broadway Week" |

Summary & Outlook

Despite a predictable dip after the holiday bonanza, Broadway remains robust in early 2026—posting year-over-year gains in both gross and attendance. With several blockbusters consistently hitting multi-million-dollar grosses and most shows filling seats at high rates, the industry looks forward to a boost from "Two-for-One Broadway Week." Special notice is given to several plays gaining momentum late in their runs, with Tony hopes on the horizon.

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