‘Hamilton’ Breaks Box Office Record Following Mike Pence Controversy
Despite Donald Trump's best efforts to sully the good name of Broadway's biggest (and, arguably, best) current musical, Hamilton continues to smash box office records. Quelle surprise!
The show reportedly brought in $3.3 million over the course of Thanksgiving week, making it the highest-grossing week in Broadway history, according to The New York Times. Wicked was technically the first production to hit the $3 million mark for a week’s worth of shows back in 2013, but they earned $3.2 million with nine performances. Hamilton did it with eight.
It helps that premium ticket prices for Hamilton cost up to $998 (another record set by the show, which was previously held by 2013's Barry Manilow on Broadway for $700), with the average cost weighing in at a hefty $303.21. Thanksgiving week also happens to be the second-most lucrative time of the year for Broadway revenue, bested only by the stretch of time between Christmas and New Year's Day.
News of Hamilton’s continued success (forever may it reign) comes days after the cast made headlines when they addressed future Vice President Mike Pence, who attended the Tony Award-winning musical on November 18.
“We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” said actor Brandon Victor Dixon, who read a pointed letter written by show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail and producer Jeffrey Seller.
President-elect Trump responded to the respectful, measured speech on Twitter, demanding the cast apologize. Pence, meanwhile, said he "wasn't offended by what was said," according to CNN.
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