Biz falls; 'Game' 392g.

NEW YORK Broadway biz took a downturn for Week 40 (Feb. 27-March 5), dropping nearly $1.9 million from the previous frame to $13,820,063 for 24 shows.

That tally still makes for a strong showing for the late-winter sesh, which hasn't gotten above $12.8 million in the past five years, and which in 2001 dropped as low as $10.4 million. But the week's tally of 190,000 theatergoers was below the frame's attendance levels of the past few years.

The only show that rose for the week was Harry Connick Jr. starrer "The Pajama Game," up around $90,000 and playing to more than 100% capacity.

All other shows saw sales slide. Both "The Producers" and "The Lion King" sank more than $200,000, while "Mamma Mia!" "Hairspray," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Sweeney Todd," "Rent" and "The Light in the Piazza" were down by more than $100,000.

Heading into a final week of previews, "Ring of Fire" has yet to catch fire.

"Wicked," as usual, remained top dog on Broadway, while initial B.O. for its West End engagement, set to start perfs Sept. 7, broke 100,000[pounds sterling] ($174,948) in its first hour on sale, and its advance is $2.97 million.

The 19 musicals grossed $11,819,476 for 85.5% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 163,653 at 82.1% capacity.

The five plays grossed $2,000,587 for 14.5% of the Broadway total, with attendance of 27,140 at 78.2% capacity.

Average paid admission was $72.22 for musicals, $73.71 for plays and $72.43 for all shows.

 
SEASON BOX OFFICE TOTALS 
Week 40: Feb. 27-March 5, 2006 
 
                                            Current 
BROADWAY                                     Season 
 
Shows playing last week                          24 
Total playing weeks to date                   1,102 
Theater occupancy last week                   66.7% 
Theater occupancy to date                     71.2% 
Paid attendance last week                   190,793 
  (% of capacity last week)                 (81.6%) 
Total attendance to date                  8,881,261 
  (% of capacity to date)                   (80.8%) 
Total receipts last week                $13,820,063 
Season total receipts to date          $636,214,216 
Average paid admission last week             $72.43 
New productions to date                          15 
 
ROAD 
 
Shows reported last week                         12 
Total playing weeks to date                     452 
Total receipts last week                $10,297,693 
Season total receipts to date          $399,978,022 
 
COMBINED TOTALS 
 
Total playing weeks                           1,554 
Total receipts to date               $1,036,192,238 
 
                                            2004-05 
BROADWAY …