‘Finding Neverland,’ ‘Skylight’ Launch Lustily; Helen Mirren Reigns At Rising Broadway Box Office

Pray for the puppet. In an up week that saw eight new shows previewing on Broadway, several looked like early contenders for the pre-Tony homestretch, while others already bore signs of a coming struggle to stay in the race. Out front for Week 43 of the Broadway season that ended Sunday were Finding Neverland, the musical re-do of the Peter Pan origin story, which rang up $1 million and change at the Nederlander-owned Lunt-Fontanne, filling all 1,479 seats at each of seven performances (but shy of its $1.3 million gross potential). Average ticket price was a respectable $96. And at the Shubert-owned Golden Theatre, the revival of David Hare’s Skylight with Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan filled 96% of the 802 seats, taking in $581K at an average ticket price of $108.25, to reach 82% of potential.

At the other end of the derby, according to figures released Monday by the trade group Broadway League, Hand To God, the puppet show that’s not Avenue Q and is fighting for name recognition (and audiences), had a rough first week, taking in $218K of a possible $615K at the Shuberts’ 782-seat Booth, with an average ticket price of $42.43 and hitting about 82% of capacity across eight previews.

In the Gallic division, An American In Paris at the Palace played to about 92% of capacity with an average ducat of $81.46 for six previews, while Gigi, at the Neil Simon, looked to wobble a bit at just under 50% of gross potential and a $77.25 per-ticket average across four outings. It Shoulda Been You, at the Brooks Atkinson, took in $294K for six previews at a cut-rate $57.49 per ticket. Wolf Hall Parts One & Two was getting $100 per ticket at the Winter Garden, where 76% of the seats were filled over four previews.

Among the newcomers, scarcity economics ruled at the starry limited runs: Helen Mirren in The Audience is commanding top dollar and patience at the Schoenfeld, having its best week yet and grossing 111% of potential at $1.2 million and getting $154.35 per ticket on average. Larry David’s Fish In The Dark also is going from strength to strength, taking in $1.13 million — an impressive 114% of potential — at the Cort, with an average ticket price of 27.3 fins.

Total gross for 32 shows was $26.3 million, a $3.4 million, 15% bump over last week. If/Then, the Idina Menzel starrer at the Richard Rodgers, closed, while The Heidi Chronicles revival, with a cast led by Elizabeth Moss, Jason Biggs and Bryce Pinkham, opened at the Music Box.