| Just like in 2005 when it sold $825 million | | | | the Beast, Doubt, Jersey Boys and The Lion |
| in tickets, experts project that the Broadway | | | | King. Beauty and the Beast , at the |
| theatre is going to set attendance and ticket | | | | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, set a record in sales |
| sales records in 2006. The thrill of | | | | of $1,229,825 and is the 6th longest running |
| attending any Broadway show can not be | | | | show of all time. Doubt broke records for |
| overstated. You can experience the crisp and | | | | the Walter Kerr Theatre. This play has won |
| emotional songs of musicals, the beauty of | | | | both Tony and Pulitzer Prizes. Jersey Boys at |
| design elements and the excitement of a | | | | the August Wilson Theatre continues to be |
| character coming to life before your eyes. | | | | considered Broadways freshest and newest |
| New York City's Theatre District is known for | | | | musical. The Lion King, another Tony winner, |
| its world-class performances. Broadway is New | | | | will be moving to the Minskoff Theatre in |
| York's top entertainment draw. This year, the | | | | June 2006. This plays record sales breaking |
| Great White Way continues to showcase the | | | | momentum is sure to continue. |
| popular favorites from 2005, while several | | | | |
| new plays are also slated to open. | | | | Coming in 2006 |
| | | | |
| Continuing on from 2005 into 2006 | | | | Mary Poppins, the extremely popular 1964 Walt |
| | | | Disney film, has made its way to Broadway. |
| At the Majestic Theatre, Phantom of the Opera | | | | Performances will begin in October or |
| continues to break attendance and ticket | | | | November of 2006 at the New Amsterdam |
| sales records. The show arrived on Broadway | | | | Theatre. Mary Poppins has had a tremendous |
| on January 26, 1988. On January 9th, 2006, | | | | run in London and will no doubt become very |
| the musical became the longest running play | | | | popular in New York. |
| in the history of Broadway with its 7, 486th | | | | |
| performance. Phantom won several Tony awards, | | | | The Wedding Singer will open on April 27, |
| including best musical, best performance by a | | | | 2006 at the Al Hirshfeld Theatre. This |
| lead actor (Michael Crawford as the Phantom) | | | | musical is based on a very popular movie, |
| and best performance by a featured actress in | | | | which focuses on a man named Robbie Hart who |
| a musical (Judy Kaye as the opera diva | | | | sings in a band that performs at weddings. |
| Carlotta Giudicelli). Additional Tonys were | | | | His desire to find the girl of his dreams |
| awarded for lighting, scenic and costume | | | | comes at one of his wedding gigs when he |
| design. | | | | meets an enchanting young woman. They become |
| | | | friends but she is engaged to another man. |
| At the St. James Theatre, The Producers | | | | If the Broadway play is as close in |
| opened in 2005 and continues to enjoy sold | | | | popularity as the movie, tickets will be |
| out performances. The Producers has won more | | | | difficult to obtain. |
| Tony awards than any other show on Broadway. | | | | |
| This Mel Brooks musical is about a Broadway | | | | Tarzan, another popular movie, is set to open |
| producer and an accountant who convince | | | | on Broadway during the month of March. It is |
| various elderly women to invest in a Broadway | | | | the story of a boy raised in the wild by |
| show. They over capitalize the show, taking | | | | animals; it was first a novel written by |
| in more money than they can ever payback even | | | | Englishman Edgar Rice Burroughs. The |
| if it was to become a hit. They produce a | | | | popularity of Tarzan in literary or film |
| musical that they are sure will never make it | | | | form. |
| past opening night and make plans to take off | | | | |
| with the money. Their "best laid plans" go | | | | On March 12, 2006, Ring of Fire, a musical |
| awry. The Producers will run through 2006 | | | | tribute to country legend Johnny Cash, opens |
| and will continue to delight ticket buyers. | | | | at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. This year |
| | | | Walk the Line, a movie about Cash, won |
| The Color Purple opened at the Broadway | | | | several Golden Globes. If it can hold the |
| Theatre on December 1, 2005, and has been | | | | boards, this play has the potential to bring |
| sold out every night since. This production | | | | innumerable country music fans into the |
| has been said to stir the soul. The Color | | | | Barrymore. |
| Purple grosses about 2 million dollars a week | | | | |
| in current and advanced sales. It is | | | | Broadways success in 2005 has rolled over |
| considered to be one of the top 5 revenue | | | | into 2006. As many as 30 new shows are |
| producing musicals on the boards. Some | | | | slated to come to Broadway in 2006. Some will |
| predict that in 2006, The Color Purple may | | | | be huge hits and many more will close in less |
| top all current musicals in ticket sales. | | | | than a week. Is the next Phantom of the Opera |
| | | | waiting in the wings? Only time will tell. |
| Other plays that broke records are Beauty and | | | | |