'Mormon Wives' Star Whitney Leavitt is Igniting the Box Office for the Iconic 'Chicago'!
Broadway's enduring musical, Chicago, has seen a remarkable surge in its box office performance, thanks to a strategic move in its long-standing tradition of bringing in celebrity talent. The current star, Whitney Leavitt, known for her role in 'Mormon Wives' and as a Dancing With The Stars alum, has stepped into the shoes of Roxie Hart, and the impact has been undeniable. Last week, the John Kander and Fred Ebb classic raked in an impressive $1,410,093, marking its most successful week since the bustling holiday season of December 2023.
As Chicago approaches its 29th year on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre, it proudly holds the title of Broadway's longest-running American musical. Leavitt made her debut on February 2 and is scheduled to captivate audiences until March 15.
Producers Barry and Fran Weissler have consistently employed a strategy of casting well-known personalities to keep the production vibrant and attract a diverse audience. Previous stars have included names like Ariana Madix, Pamela Anderson, Brandy, Christie Brinkley, and NeNe Leakes. However, Leavitt's presence appears to be a particularly potent draw. The $1.4 million gross for the week ending February 15 is approximately double the earnings of other non-holiday weeks this year.
But here's where it gets interesting... While the week ending February 15 did include the Presidents Day weekend, which naturally draws visitors, and the tail end of Broadway Week's popular two-for-one promotion, Chicago's performance even surpassed its Christmas and New Year's holiday earnings. With an attendance of 8,565, the theatre was filled to 99% capacity, its highest occupancy rate this year.
And this is the part most people miss... While Chicago shone brightly, many other productions also experienced a boost during this strong holiday week. Out of the 27 shows running, all but one (The Great Gatsby was the outlier, showing a slight dip) saw an increase in their box office numbers compared to the previous week. Hits like Aladdin, Hamilton, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child each saw gains exceeding $300,000, while The Lion King and Wicked surged by over $400,000.
The top-grossing shows for that particular week were Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ($2,682,872), Hamilton ($2,198,060), Wicked ($2,024,329), The Lion King ($1,918,748), and Chess ($1,588,042).
In its final week of performances, Marjorie Prime saw a respectable increase of $49,627, bringing its total to $405,194 and filling 95% of its seats at The Hayes Theater.
Collectively, the 27 Broadway productions grossed a substantial $33,578,362 for the week ending February 15. This represents an 11.3% increase from the week prior and a significant 19% jump compared to the same period last year (note that Presidents Day 2025 did not fall within the comparison week). Attendance for the week remained steady at 246,718, mirroring the previous week and the year-over-year figures. The average ticket price climbed to $136.10, a notable increase of $18.59 from the preceding week.
A quick note on 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow': This production did not have regular public performances last week as it was being filmed for an upcoming release.
Looking at the season so far, in the 38th week of the 2025-26 season, Broadway has grossed an impressive $1,394,123,670. This is an increase of about 8% compared to the same point last year, with total attendance reaching 10,416,208, up 3%.
Now, let's talk about the 'celebrity stunt-casting' strategy. While it's clearly working wonders for Chicago, is it truly the best approach for long-term success, or is it a fleeting trend? Does bringing in stars from other mediums dilute the artistic integrity of a show, or does it introduce it to a whole new audience? What are your thoughts on this practice? Do you believe it's a necessary evil for Broadway's survival, or a creative misstep? Share your opinions in the comments below!
