The Broadway League – the national trade association, founded in 1930, for the Broadway industry, with a current membership of more than 700 – today released statistics for the first full season since Broadway returned from the extended COVID-19 pandemic closure beginning in March 2020. In the 2022-23 season, which opened on May 23, 2022, and ended on May 21, 2023, Broadway reached a total attendance of 12,283,399 and generated $1,577,586,897 in grosses.
During the season, with 1,474 playing weeks and 11,506 performances, audiences had the opportunity to attend 40 new productions and 35 continuing productions. The 40 productions that opened during the season included fifteen musicals (nine original, six revivals), 24 plays (eighteen original, five revivals, one return engagement), and one special engagement (original). 88.4% of seats were filled, comparable to pre-pandemic levels.
“Broadway is making a strong rebound as audiences are returning to New York City to experience extraordinary live theatre,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League. “The 2022-2023 season numbers indicate an upward trajectory with 12.3 million attendances and nearly $1.6 billion in grosses. Broadway continues to present robust and diverse productions ranging from beloved classics to groundbreaking debuts, attracting an array of audiences who are keeping the Theatre District bustling with excitement.”
Traditionally, the summer season, following the broadcast of the Tony Awards (to be presented this year on Sunday, June 11, by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and airing in an unscripted format on CBS and Paramount+ in agreement with the striking Writers Guild of America), generates an increased tourist market and higher tickets sales, so we can expect that the upward trend will continue into the 2023-24 season. Every indication is that Broadway is back!
