Broadway Box Office: Billy Crystal’s ‘860’ Sees Strong Opening, As ‘Downstate’ and More Start Previews
Billy Crystal’s one-person show, 860, opened to largely positive reviews and drew audiences at close to full capacity, signalling a strong start as Broadway’s autumn season gathers pace. It grossed $1.2 million across seven performances, even with opening night tickets comped, and has extended its run through 14 February.
Hamilton led the weekly box office with $2.5 million, followed by Other Desert Cities at $2.3 million; the latter played to full capacity and had Broadway’s highest average ticket price, $290. Downstate began previews at 95 per cent capacity but grossed $264,437, while Wanted took $624,088 over eight performances and The Fantasticks grossed $254,610 across four. A Few Good Men, starring Bradley Whitford and Tom Blyth, grossed nearly $1.4 million ahead of its 29 October opening.
In short
- Billy Crystal’s 860 grossed $1.2 million in its opening week.
- The show played to around 98 per cent capacity.
- Its run has been extended through 14 February.
Explained simply
Broadway shows earn money through ticket sales, with weekly grosses influenced by the number of performances, audience size and ticket prices. Previews are performances before a show officially opens, when audiences can see it ahead of opening-night reviews.
Billy Crystal is an actor and comedian, and 860 is a solo stage show built around his performance. The season also includes established hits such as Hamilton and new or returning productions including Downstate and Other Desert Cities.
Box-office figures offer a snapshot of how shows are drawing audiences and what they are paying, but they do not by themselves show a production’s costs or overall profit. They help explain the competition for audiences as Broadway’s autumn season gets under way.
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