(August 30, 2005) Broadway is having its best season-to-date, according to The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., with ticket sales and paid attendance the highest ever for the first 13 weeks of any season.

Grosses for the 2005-06 season-to-date are $211.4 million, compared to $194.9 million (an increase of 8.5 %) for the same frame during the 2004-05 season. Paid attendance for this season to date is 3.08 million, compared to 2.96 million for the same frame for the 2004-05 seasons (a 4.0 % increase).

The number of playing weeks on Broadway -- the best overall measure of New York activity -- for the season-to-date is 384 playing weeks, compared to last year's season to date of 370.

“With virtually one-third of the current plays and musicals performing to 90% of capacity or more, and such a range of great productions, it is no surprise that Broadway is having its best season-to-date,” said Jed Bernstein, President, The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. reported a gross of $769 million in New York for the 2004-5 season. The number of tickets sold for Broadway during the 2004-5 season reached 11.5 million.