Broadway shows enjoy ticket sales bump

NEW YORK, July 18 (UPI) -- Tickets sales for nearly all Broadway productions in New York are up since the Fourth of July holiday, figures show.

Variety reported Friday box office sales for the Broadway production of "The Lion King" increased by $135,000 for the week of July 6-12, compared with a downturn during the Fourth of July.

Meanwhile, "The Little Mermaid" enjoyed a 15 percent bump in box office sales and "Hair" rebounded from a slow week to top the $1 million mark in overall ticket sales.

The addition of "Dancing With the Stars" co-host Samantha Harris to the Broadway production of "Chicago" appeared beneficial as the musical enjoyed an uptick in attendance.

Similar sales increases were enjoyed by "Rock of Ages," "Next to Normal" and "Shrek the Musical."

Variety said the 18 Broadway musicals enjoyed an attendance of 92.9 percent capacity, while the New York theater district's six plays performed to just 81.3 percent capacity.