The revival of Other Desert Cities took the top spot on Broadway's weekly grosses chart for the first time, earning $2.35 million at the Hudson Theatre for the week ending November 1, according to Playbill. The gain came almost entirely from ticket prices, which averaged $301.23, the highest on Broadway that week.

Why did Other Desert Cities climb to No. 1?

The production, which stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Allison Janney and Joe Keery, was already selling out, so the extra $85,000 over the previous week reflected pricier seats rather than more tickets sold. Its average price beat the runner-up by more than $60. The show sits ahead of Hamilton ($2.32 million), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ($1.63 million), MJ The Musical ($1.62 million) and The Lion King ($1.57 million).

For Keery, the run is his Broadway debut after the Stranger Things finale. He told TheaterMania the play, written by Jon Robin Baitz, acts as a mirror for audiences thinking about their own families.

Are star-driven straight plays reshaping Broadway?

A second high-profile production suggests the category is growing. A Shakespeare revival led by Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell played a single preview and still took in $358,262, with an average ticket of $238 and a full house, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Scaled to a normal eight-performance week, it would out-earn Other Desert Cities by more than $500,000, though first previews often carry extra appeal for fans.

What else happened in a down week?

Broadway's 33 running shows brought in $29.57 million, down almost 13% from the prior week despite one more production on the boards. Attendance fell 4% as theaters competed with Halloween and the New York City Marathon. Billy Crystal's solo show 860 set a house record at $1.35 million, while A Few Good Men, with Bradley Whitford and Tom Blyth, drew near $1.3 million and filled every seat despite mixed reviews.

FAQ

What was the average Broadway ticket price last week?

Across all shows it was $117.49, far below the $301.23 average for Other Desert Cities.

When does Much Ado About Nothing open?

The Hiddleston and Atwell production is scheduled to open November 19 at the Winter Garden Theatre.