Julia Roberts' show grosses nearly $1 million in first week of previews

Julia Roberts was almost the million-dollar baby on Broadway last week.

Photo: Julia Roberts' show grosses nearly million in first week of previews

"Three Days of Rain," which stars Roberts, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper, grossed a whopping $988,298 ( Ђ 819,280) for its first full week of preview performances, according to figures released Monday by the League of American Theatres and Producers.

The eight performances, which began March 28, played to 101 percent of capacity (which includes standing room) at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, the league said. The Richard Greenberg play Roberts' Broadway debut opens April 19.

Other shows playing to capacity or better last week included "Wicked," "Monty Python's Spamalot," "The Pajama Game," "The Odd Couple" and "The Phantom of the Opera." Although "Phantom" was helped by discount offers, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical has demonstrated surprising box-office muscle, particularly after becoming Broadway's longest running show last January, reports AP.

According to Louisville Courier-Journal, the Broadway revival of "Three Days of Rain," starring Julia Roberts in her Broadway debut, is pretty much sold-out for its two-month run.

"Some seats are available, but not many," producer David Stone said, although he and fellow producer Marc Platt have declined to talk about exact figures and the advance.

Yet go online at eBay, for example, and you can find more than 200 offerings of tickets for the show. One prime orchestra location, fifth row center, has a minimum bid of $600.

Internet reaction to Roberts' first preview performance Tuesday was sparse but encouraging from theatergoers who were at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

O.Ch.