DURHAM - The Durham Performing Arts Center had a net income of more than $4.5 miilion in fiscal 2011-12, with $1.8 million of it going to to the city, according to preliminary accounting.

Community Development Director Reginald Johnson announced the figures Thursday during a City Council work session.

Under its operating contract with PFM/Nederlander, the city gets 40 percent of the annual net income to use for paying off debt, maintaining and paying other costs related to the city-owned theater.

DPAC director Bob Klaus said 2011-12 attendance was 417,180, one-quarter of them first-time patrons. More than a third of the performances sold out, and the SunTrust Broadway series has close to 11,000 subscribers for the 2012-13 season.

“That will be the highest we’ve ever had,” he said.

The biggest draw of 2011-12 was a four-week return engagement of "Wicked," with 82,000 people attending 32 performances just two years after a successful run at DPAC.

“The expectations were high,” Klaus said, “But we beat all expectations.”