First Night to Release BETTY BLUE EYES Cast Album

Cameron Mackintosh's musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray film ‘A Private Function', will close at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 24 September 2011 after a run of six months. First Night Records will release the original cast album for the show. Featuring 20 tracks from the West End production, the release date for the album has not yet been announced.

After receiving some of the best reviews seen for a brand new musical in the past 20 years and despite an enormously enthusiastic reaction from audiences each night, the new musical has failed to attract an audience in sufficient numbers to remain economically viable. It seems that the prevailing economic uncertainties nationally are leading audiences to take less risks on spending their money on new and unknown work and to seek refuge in safe and familiar titles and material. It is, perhaps, significant that ‘Les Misérables' and ‘The Phantom of the Opera' continue to play to packed houses every night.

Cameron Mackintosh said, "It is very curious - after such amazing reviews and positive word of mouth, no-one knows the real reason why Betty couldn't find a bigger audience. We have been consistently playing to just over 50 percent but it just isn't enough to cover the costs. Of course I am disappointed but I'm not despondent, I am enormously proud of Betty. I know that she will eventually have her day and another life".