Sillerman’s Abby Normal

Co-producer Robert F.X. Sillerman is tinkering with a time-honored tradition on Broadway by choosing not to release weekly grosses when the most hotly anticipated show of the year, "The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein," opens November 8th.

"This is a private transaction," the roll-up king and mastermind behind SFX and CKX told the New York Times. "Consequently, I don’t know if there’s any – I’m quite sure there’s not any – bona fide business reason to do it other than bragging rights."

Whether he’s concerned about fallout from prime seats going for an estimated $375 and $475, or just being modest, he’s not saying. The practice of reporting weekly grosses, including attendance and average ticket prices, started in the pages of Variety in the 1930s, according to the Times.

The practice, while not mandatory, is expected in the insular legitimate theatre world, which is reportedly already piqued at Sillerman’s tweaking of industry conventions.

Sound familiar?