‘The Odd Couple’ a tough ticket

A Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” doesn’t officially open for a month, but don’t expect a wide choice of seats -- the 26-week engagement is virtually sold out.

Advance sales for the play, which reunites actors Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick of “The Producers” fame, total more than $20 million -- ensuring investors a big payday.

But it’s only the continuation of what has been a heady few months on Broadway. In fact, the first third of the 2005-06 season has been worthy of a standing ovation. For the 17 weeks ending last Sunday, attendance was 3.8 million, up 6% from a comparable period a year earlier. Gross ticket sales rang in at $261.4 million, nearly 10% higher than the previous season, although some of that growth is because of higher prices.