Broadway League Releases Stats for Record-Setting 2011-12 Season

The Broadway League today released its end-of-season statistics for the 2011-12 season, which was the highest-grossing year on record according to the League. Broadway shows earned approximately $1.14 billion in grosses and total attendance reached more than 12.33 million this season, which began May 30, 2011 and ended May 27, 2012.

"The variety of shows currently on Broadway succeeds in providing something for everyone, so we’re not surprised that this is the highest grossing season in our history," Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, said in a statement.

Forty new shows opened during the 2011-12 season, including 14 musicals, 23 plays, and three specials.

Although gross revenue increased 5.4 percent from last season, ticket sales remained flat around 12.3 million or actually decreased from 12.53 million, depending on the calculations. This means that the growth in box office earnings is more a result of higher ticket prices than added attendance. According to the Broadway League, "To account for variances in the calendar year and in an effort to maintain an end-of-May end to the season, a 53rd week is added to the Broadway season every seven years. For the previous year, the 2010-2011 season, which consisted of 53 weeks, figures totaled $1.08 billion in grosses and 12.53 million in attendance. For comparative purposes, for a 52-week 2010-2011 season, grosses were $1.06 billion and attendances, 12.3 million."