Drama

Broadway shows contributed $11.2 billion to the New York City economy during the 2010-2011 season, the Broadway League announced early June 2012 right before the coveted Tony Awards Ceremony airing live on Sunday June 10, 2012. The organization arrived at that figure by measuring the economic impact of spending in three areas: Broadway production companies mounting and running shows ($2.2 billion); theater operators maintaining and renovating venues ($22.3 million); and ancillary purchases by theater-loving tourists ($9 billion).

The money that was directly spent in those brackets was then re-spent in further rounds, said the League, noting that the Great White Way supports 86,000 jobs and directs $550 million in taxes to New York.  The $11.2 billion marks a nine percent jump from the 2008 – 2009 season, where $10 billion was funneled into New York.  Meanwhile, Broadway is hitting record numbers at the box office, generating $1.14 billion in the 2011-2012 season, which wrapped in May at the cutoff point for Tony Awards eligibility. Much of the increase is attributed to the growing proliferation of premium-priced tickets for in-demand shows.  In addition to perennial top-earners such as Wicked and The Lion King, season totals saw a boost with the stellar grosses of The Book of Mormon and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Hit limited engagements also were major contributors, chief among them Hugh Jackman's song-and-dance revue, Back on Broadway, and the Mike Nichols-directed Death of Salesman revival, which ended its run end of May, 2012 by breaking the house record at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for the eighth time.