BROADWAY CLOSINGS - call it!

[Marianne2]

The producers of Chicago have gotten their money back, so essentially, they can probably do whatever they want to keep the show running, if they want to and if they can stay in the theater.

I agree with dramamama11 about Chad Kimball. I saw Memphis when it was on PBS. Never in my life have I disliked a character in a show so much. Huey is worth punching because he annoyed the crap out me that much. Every time Chad opened his mouth to speak, I cringed and wanted to gouge my ears out with something sharp. This is coming from someone who generally likes most of what they see. This was the first show I can say I really disliked a lot.

[dramamama611]

The physical stature he gave to the character was without warrant and distracting. I could not stand the choice to have the role sound/behave like a mentally challenged individual.

[yankeefan7]

Marianne2 - You are right "Chicago" producers can do anything they want, I just don't like it. I understand that they may think a famous name will help them but I would rather see some deserving young actress get a shot than somebody like Christie Brinkley. Nothing against Ms. Brinkley personally, it is just that she is not very talented IMO.

As for "Memphis" and Chad Kimball, to each his/her own. Thought the show was ok and he gave a good performance. He was nominated for a Tony (best actor) but I will honestly say I don't remember the competition for best actor (musical) that year. As for the role he played, I think he was supposed to be kind of "nutty/crazy" like the DJ's in the 50's in the south. Anyway, kind of curious what you thought about Montego Glover's performance in "Memphis"

[frogs_fan85]

I'm going to throw SEMINAR out there as another soon to be casualty. The show was selling tickets through July 1 with a TBA cast beginning on May 29th, but at some point last week ticket sales were curtailed back to May 27th- the end of Jeff Goldblum's contract. The grosses have been fairly abysmal since April 3rd with the new cast, so unless a big name replacement is brought in or Rickman comes back (which could happen if he's nominated), I'm pretty sure the show will close in four weeks if not sooner.

[THEATRICAL100]

Anyone know the LOWEST audience rate for Lysistrata Jones? I mean, it must've been horrible, but I'm just interested...

[dramamama611]

All the info you are looking for is here on this site. Look under BWW TODAY on the left of this page. YOu can easily change the date to one that LJ was playing, and then look at all her stats.

[yankeefan7]

Looks like "How To Succeed" is in trouble.

[kyl3fong2]

When is Nick Jonas' contract up? I imagine after he leaves the show will close not long after that.

[theaterfangirl]

Nick's done July 1, but I've heard two different rumors, one claiming the show is going to close as of that date and Nick will be moving over to Jersey Boys in the fall, and one that says Nick's signed an extension through October and they haven't announced it yet.

I don't know that I believe either of those.

[ClumsyDude15]

I'd rather the show close with class with Nick than have Darren return or someone of equal ridiculousness. I assume they couldn't get Darren back into the fold, which seemed to be the rumor for quite sometime, but I think Bring It On would do very well in the Hirschfeld, if the rumors about the St. James don't pan out.

Is Anything Goes closing in September to make way for the Edwin Dood revival?

[dramamama611]

Shows dont' close to "make room" for something else. They close because they arent' making enough money. That something else is interested in the theater is secondary. (Well, it does make it easier for the theater to hold a production to their contract with less wiggle room.)

[ClumsyDude15]

But, don't most Roundabout shows close to make room for other Roundabout productions? Roundabout holds the right to the Sondheim, does it?

[dramamama611]

Same principle: if they are making (enough) money with Anything Goes, they aren't going to close it. Sales have indeed been slipping, so I would actually be suprised if AG says goodbye in Aug/Sept. I suppose once sales start declining they take the next sshow off the back burner.

[ClumsyDude15]

You're right, and I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Anything Goes closed in September, but I just assumed the principle with Roundabout was they kept their shows running and extending until the back burner show is ready to go up.

Unless, like you said - it's not making the money, then the obvious principle applies - not making money, close the show.

[ClumsyDude15]

Double post, ain't it a bitch.

[kyl3fong2]

Despite it receiving a Best Musical nomination, LEAP OF FAITH will still close soon after the end of Summer. I believe that this show will suffer the same fate as CATCH ME did last year.

[BroadwayBen]

I don't know how Leap of Faith can make it through the Tonys, much less the Tonys. They have be to losing $300,000 a week as it is.

[taboo123]

and there goes SEMINAR.

[taboo123]

All of you feasting on Priscilla....
your wish has been granted

http://broadwayworld.com/article/PRISCILLA-QUEEN-OF-THE-DESERT-to-Close-on-Broadway-June-24-20120516


Ghost next???

[dramamama611]

Nah, I think Ghost will make it through the summer...limping, but it will manage.

I'm going with the other G show: Godspell.

[Bwaydide92]

I think theatre companies and orginisations like Disney and Roundabout actually do close shows to make room for new ones. I read on Wikipedia (I know it's not the most reliable) that Beauty and the Beast closed to make room for The Little Mermaid. I don't know Beauty's figures but I'm guessing they were enough to keep it open longer but Disney thought that Mermaid would do better (which was wrong. I don't know if Roundabout has similar practices

Here's an excerpt from the wiki article
The musical had a pre-Broadway tryout in Denver, Colorado in July through early September 2007, with Broadway previews beginning in November 2007 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, previously the home of Disney Theatrical's Beauty and the Beast, which closed in July 2007 to make way for the new production. With Disney set to open the show at the time, it was believed that having two Disney icons on Broadway at the same time would divide audiences and cause competition between the two shows

[taboo123]

Million Dollar Quartet- off the block.

Can anyone predict the next closing notice after TOny night?

[dramamama611]

Bwaydide -- yes, that was stupidity on Disney's part. B&B was a MUCH better show.

[bdn223]

Beaydide----you are correct about Disney that they do not want to hurt theirnprofitable shows which is why Shumocker said their will be a Disney production of the Jungle Book in Chicago this summer their is no way in Hell its coming to broadway because they "already have a show with animals" aka Lion King.
For theater companies they are nonprofit so to keep their tax exemption they cannot keep a show on the boards just because its profitable if it hinders their mission statements, which is why War Horse is supposidly moving as well as their shows are rarly profitable.

[Jonwo]

South Pacific ran for 2 and a half years and I imagine that made money on Broadway, it just ran its source and Anything Goes is playing at an extended run at the Sondheim, I imagine non-profits like having long running shows as it provides them with a steady income and allows them to take risks with their other shows.

Jungle Book I think is for licensing purposes as Disney aren't licensing The Lion King and this is a compromise for them. Of course, if it successful in Chicago, it may go to Broadway but Disney have a lot of shows in development.

[bdn223]

Yes South Pacific was allowed to run its course but after was such a hit and then War Horse as well the NYTimes did a sunday editorial on this last year on it and how the government was looking ti audit them because of it, whichbis why they want War Horse out of the Boumont