NEW YORK -- Cameron Mackintosh, producer of "Miss Saigon," has acknowledged buying unsold seats to the musical during the January-February attendance slump.

By making such purchases he could maintain the perception that it was the only new musical of the past two seasons to sell out consistently, when, in fact, there were periodically empty seats.

Although Mr. Mackintosh would not confirm figures, members of the theater staff estimate he bought between 10 and 120 seats at various performances. The Broadway seats 1,752. Mr. Mackintosh says he donated those tickets to charity groups.