‘Vanya’ Recoups Investment

By PATRICK HEALY | The New York Times

In another sign that Broadway’s 2012-13 season was strong overall for plays at the box office, Christopher Durang’s comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” has recouped its $2.75 million capitalization and will have the rest of the summer to earn profits for its investors, the producers announced on Monday. “Vanya and Sonia,” starring David Hyde Pierce and Sigourney Weaver, is the fifth play from the season to recoup, joining “Glengarry Glen Ross” (which starred Al Pacino), “The Heiress” (Jessica Chastain), “Lucky Guy” (Tom Hanks) and “I’ll Eat You Last” (Bette Midler). Another play, “Grace,” narrowly missed recouping, in part due to the fall-out of Hurricane Sandy.

The critically acclaimed “Vanya and Sonia,” which had a popular Off Broadway run last fall before moving to Broadway’s Golden Theater, has had solid ticket sales since performances resumed there in March; its box office receipts have only increased since June 9, when it won the Tony Award for best play. “Vanya and Sonia” is set to run through Aug. 25, with Tony winner Julie White replacing Ms. Weaver in the cast starting July 30. The five profitable plays account for about one-third of the commercial play productions on Broadway during 2012-13; usually only about 25 percent of Broadway shows turn a profit each year. Another play from the 2012-13 season, “The Trip to Bountiful,” starring Tony winner Cicely Tyson, has extended performances through Sept. 1 to improve its chances to recoup.

Source: The New York Times: Broadway’s ‘Vanya and Sonia’ Recoups Investment