Cats: The Jellicle Ball posted its best box office numbers ever on Broadway last week, grossing $1,405,709 for the week ending August 2 as its closing date approaches. That figure was up $216,278 from the previous week, with the production playing to standing-room-only crowds. The revival is scheduled to close on August 8.
The surge comes as fans rush to see the Jellicle cats before the run ends. According to the weekly box office report, the show's strong performance marks a high point for the production, which has been enjoying a successful but limited engagement.
Ragtime, another musical revival nearing the end of its Broadway run, also saw its highest-grossing week, according to the same report. Ragtime is set to close on August 16. Both shows are revivals of well-known musicals, and both are finishing their runs this month.
The box office gains for both productions suggest that the final weeks of a limited run can draw substantial audiences, as theatergoers seek to catch the shows before they close. The numbers reflect the continuing strength of Broadway's current season, even as these two productions prepare to take their final bows.