Broadway Plays Enjoying Strong Summer Ticket Sales

Today's New York Times Arts Beat reports that several Broadway plays are experiencing strong box office grosses so far this summer, a period which is traditionally slower for plays as visiting tourists opt for big production-heavy musicals.

Among the the plays enjoying strong ticket sales is Christopher Durang's, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike." According to the report, sales have 'spiked' (no pun intended) 30 percent since the comedy received the Tony Award for Best Play on June 9th. Last week, the show grossed $711,012, which marks 93 percent of the maximum potential gross.

Bette Midler's 'I'll Eat You Last,' currently playing at the Booth Theater, also set a box office record, grossing $890,276 in ticket sales, an amount equal to 114 percent of the maximum possible gross after factoring in premium ticket prices of $298.

Nora Ephron's "Lucky Guy," which marks the Broadway debut of Oscar winner Tom Hanks, grossed an impressive $634,205 in just four performances. The show has offered a reduced schedule to accommodate conflicts of some of its cast members, according to the play's spokesman.

In addition, "The Nance" starring Nathan Lane; "The Trip to Bountiful" featuring Tony winner Cicely Tyson; and Richard Greenberg's "The Assembled Parties" with best featured actress winner Judith Light, all grossed 50 percent or higher of their maximum possible amounts.

The Times reports that overall, Broadway musicals and plays have grossed $24.1 million last week alone.