Audiences Give Gift to 'White Christmas'

Critics may have been stingy with praise for Irving Berlin's White Christmas, but audiences have more than made up for it. A weekly summary of Braodway ticket sales showed that White Christmas grossed more than $1.5 million in ticket sales for the week ending December 21, making it tops at the box office for the second straight week.

That means in terms of Broadway ticket sales the show beat out Wicked, Billy Elliot, and Jersey Boys.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas made my Best of Broadway 2008 list on the strength of the great Irving Berlin songs, several outstanding production numbers, and for simply being a great holiday show that's not just for kids.

Here are the top five grossers of the week, with the entire list available through The Broadway League:

1. Irving Berlin's White Christmas
   Gross: $1,588,859
   Capacity: 98%
   
   
2. Wicked
   Gross: $1,499,186
   Capacity: 100%
   
   
3. Billy Elliot
   Gross: $1,207,766
   Capacity: 98%
   
   
4. The Lion King
   Gross: $1,112,488
   Capacity: 85%
   
   
5. Jersey Boys
   Gross: $1,073,697
   Capacity: 99%