2 plays have reason to crow on Broadway this week

NEW YORK (AP) — Two star-driven Broadway plays this week got early Christmas presents when they announced they'd recouped their respective investments.

Producers of "It's Only a Play," Terrence McNally's comedy starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Stockard Channing, said Wednesday they'd recouped its $3.9 million capitalization. On Friday came word that Hugh Jackman's "The River" had recouped its $3.2 million investment.

"It's Only a Play" has been a hit at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, where it has set a new house record with $1,424,000 for eight shows. Jackman has also been selling out the Circle in the Square theater, taking over from Audra McDonald in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill," which also recouped this fall.

Traditionally, only about 3 in 10 Broadway shows recoup.

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Online:

http://www.TheRiverOnBroadway.com

http://www.ItsOnlyAPlay.com