Broadway Box Office Hits Record $1.14 Billion for Latest Season

Broadway shows have grossed a record-setting total of $1.14 billion in the 2011-2012 season, with producers raising the price of premium tickets, the New York Times reports.

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Citing data from the Broadway League, the Times said 12 million theatergoers -- about the same as in the 2010-2011 season -- attended 40 new plays and musicals along with long-running fixtures on the Great White Way. But revenues climbed due to premium ticket prices on such musicals as the Tony-winning The Book of Mormon charging up to $477 for the best seats in the house; meanwhile, the most expensive seat at the Tony-nominated revival of Death of a Salesman goes for $475, which is a rare high number for a play ticket.

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The Book of Mormon broke the Eugene O'Neil Theater's box office record for the 34th time last week partially due to the premium fees, while Death of a Salesman -- directed by Mike Nichols and starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman -- did the same for the Barrymore Theater for the seventh time.

The $1.14 billion in grosses was calculated during a 52-week season, as compared with the $1.1 billion for 2010-2011 season over 53 weeks.