Is The Wiz the Show That Finally Lifted the Marquis Theatre Jinx?

The much-anticipated revival of The Wiz wrapped up its 20-week run at the Marquis Theatre on Sunday, closing out with remarkable numbers. The Wiz adopted a unique strategy that might set a trend for future Broadway productions: the show began its tour before making its Broadway debut. The production kicked off at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore on September 23, 2023, toured nationally, and then launched Broadway previews on March 29, 2024. This approach seems to have paid off, with the production completing 18 previews and 142 regular performances, grossing a total of $29,699,923.45, with an average ticket price (ATP) of $121.17 and a capacity of 96.49%.

For years, the Marquis Theatre had a reputation as a challenging venue, often joked about as the place where shows go to die. While not entirely accurate, no musical at the Marquis has achieved success on the scale of The Wiz since at least the 2011-2012 season. The closest contender was the 2012 revival of Evita, which ran for about 45 weeks, grossing $52,678,175, with an ATP of $110.04 and a capacity of 81.48%. Although Evita had an impressive ATP when adjusted for inflation, its capacity was still lower than that of The Wiz. Below is a comparison of The Wiz with the other seven musicals that have graced the Marquis Theatre since 2011 and their respective performances:

*Based on 8 shows a week

Looking ahead, the highly anticipated new play Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set to be the next production at the Marquis Theatre, and we have a good feeling about its potential success!