Trio of shows help Broadway recover up

Broadway box office rebounded nicely in Week 16 (Sept. 12-18, 2011) with many shows obtaining momentum carrying out a slouching prior sesh. The recently opened up "Follies" published its best tally yet despite needing to deal with a comp-heavy week, and spring records for example "Priscilla Full from the Desert" and "Sister Act" drenched notable increases.The revival uses a publish-Labor Day frame which was most likely compounded than normal through the concurrence from the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11. Using the city now free to pay attention to other activities, overall Rialto sales upticked by $1.7 million to $16 million for 25 shows around the boards.An upswing at "Follies" ($877,239), which opened up Sept. 12, was fueled by reviews that demonstrated sufficiently strong enough to combat the revenue lost in the comped opening evening and 2nd-evening press perfs.Meanwhile, with less competish -- as well as enough distance in the spring honours craze to begin to create an account with theatergoers -- two tuners from last season, "Priscilla" ($734,089) and "Sister Act" ($621,509), rallied, climbing by about 35% each. The shows also drenched attendance totals in excess of 70% each.Last season's runaway hit, "It of Mormon" ($1,291,617), continued to be on componen using its healthy tally in the previous frame, but increases at "Wicked" ($1,479,369) and "The Lion King" ($1,414,948) changed the very best 10 to place "Mormon" in third, just in front of "Spider-Guy: Switch Off the Dark" ($1,231,589).With just one production in previews, the Frank Langella starrer "Guy and Boy" ($213,069 for seven perfs), the 2011-12 slate has not yet ramped up. Both grosses and attendance should keep increasing within the coming days as other shows -- including Samuel L. Jackson-Angela Bassett topliner "The Mountaintop" -- begin their preview periods.The general Broadway cume rose $1.7 million to $16 million for that 20 shows around the boards, with attendance rising to 178,675 at 81.3%. The 18 musicals made $14,818,138 for 93% from the Broadway total, with attendance of 166,165 at 80.1% capacity and average compensated admission of $89.19.The 2 plays made $1,191,444 for 7.4% from the Broadway total, with attendance of 12,510 at 80.25% capacity and average compensated admission of $95.24. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com