Robert Downey Jr.’s Broadway debut, *McNeal*, has made a stunning entrance, selling out its first four previews and generating $746,230. The play, which is being performed at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, achieved this impressive figure despite having only four performances, hinting at a potential $1.5 million if it had played a typical eight-show week.
With an average ticket price of $170.37—second only to *Cabaret*—*McNeal* attracted full houses for each show, a noteworthy feat for a nonprofit theater with a substantial subscription base. Written by Ayad Akhtar and directed by Bartlett Sher, *McNeal* features Downey as a gifted author who remains a perennial Pulitzer finalist, captivated by artificial intelligence. The production began previews on September 5 and is set to officially open on September 30.
In other Broadway news, Cole Escola’s comedy *Oh Mary!* continues its strong performance at the Lyceum Theatre, breaking its own box office record for the fifth time last week with $1.1 million in revenue and full capacity.
Overall, Broadway saw a slight decline in grosses and attendance as it transitions from the Labor Day holiday into Broadway Week, a period marked by discounted ticket deals. The industry’s total gross dropped by 9.5 percent compared to the previous week, with attendance down 1.4 percent.
One notable exception to the trend is *Cabaret*, which saw a $50,000 increase in grosses, bringing in $1.5 million and securing its place as the third highest-grossing show of the week. Current stars Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin will depart their roles after September 14, with Adam Lambert and Auli’i Cravalho set to take over starting September 16.
