Spiderman on Broadway, by Marvel Comics, takes over 40 years of history to Broadway. Features new music by Bono and The Edge of U2, directed July Taymor of The Lion King. - Photo SpidermanOnBroadway
The new musical ‘Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark’ has beat out long-time running hit “Wicked” at the Broadway box office, but by less than the average ticket price for one seat.
Both musicals drew full houses last week, according to the Broadway League, but Spidey upstaged the Oz musical.
“Spider-Man” took in $1,588,514 during eight preview shows with the average paid ticket price of $102.86. By comparison, “Wicked,” which began Broadway shows in 2003, snatched up $1,588,456 during eight shows with the average paid ticket price at $109.56.
The difference between the two shows is just $58.
One reason for the “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark” is that its home theater at Foxwoods Theatre has 1,930 seats. The Gershwin Theater, where “Wicked” is performed daily, has 1,809 seats. Different premium ticket prices also affect the shows’ total sales figures.
Last week, injured star of “Spider-Man” Chris Tierney returned to the theater. Tierney is one of three injured performers from the expensive and crisis-prone production incident during December’s preview.
Tierney suffered multiple injuries while rehearsing the musical more than two weeks earlier when he fell 30 feet. He attended the Friday show with a back brace and eight screws in his back.
“Tonight, as the thing’s going up I thought, ‘Wow!’ and I kind of felt a tang of pride. ‘I fell from that’,” he said.
“Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark” is set to officially open on Monday, February 7. Along with multiple cast injuries, cast members quitting and production delays the $65-million show has struggled financially. Despite the internal operational flaws, the show is set to be one of the biggest hits on Broadway. It features music by Bono and The Edge from the band U2.