What time of the year has the fewest shows running on Broadway?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 1/22/17 at 12:18am

I was looking at IBDB's home page, which lists the current shows running, and I don't think I've ever seen it with as few shows as there are currently. I know a lot of shows closed in the last week or so (The Humans, Jersey Boys, Oh Hello, Holiday Inn). Is January usually when the fewest shows are running on Broadway, or is it another time of year, or is it completely arbitrary?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/22/17 at 12:52am

generally, it is January. Shows that held on to exploit the holiday are gone, new shows generally do not open until later. But there are no rules.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/22/17 at 4:26am

Late summer is often pretty barren too.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/22/17 at 9:47am

a couple of other observations. 

If you break out plays and musicals separately, Broadway is often bereft of plays in late summer. 

If you focus on the longer perspective, pre-air conditioning, late summer would almost undoubtedly win.