Two Broadway revivals, 'Death of a Salesman' and 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball,' closed their runs with their highest grosses yet. 'Death of a Salesman' took in $2.5 million in its final week, while 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' earned $1.8 million. Both shows posted the biggest box office numbers of their entire engagements.
The strong finishes stand out because 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' ended its run five months earlier than originally planned. That early closing has sparked discussion within the theater industry about rising production costs and the difficulty of mounting a successful big musical in today's market. Industry observers have lamented the show's abbreviated run, seeing it as a sign of the financial challenges facing Broadway productions.
'Death of a Salesman' also concluded its revival on a high note, matching the enthusiastic response it received throughout its engagement. The two shows' final-week results demonstrate that even well-received productions can struggle to sustain long runs in the current Broadway economy. Both revivals leave the stage having achieved their best financial performances at the very end, offering a bittersweet conclusion for the casts, crews, and audiences who supported them.