Post-Tony's Closures (2023)

[Ali Gator]

No Broadway show likes to be the first to drop their shoe and post their closing notice after the Tony Awards, but it's inevitable when a show is struggling to find an audience and investors grow frustrated. The Tonys were announced a little over a month ago, and so far two shows dropped their shoe.

CLOSING JULY 23:

The first was "Life of Pi", which announced it's closing (on July 23),  just nine days after the Tony Awards were announced. The West End transfer had opened at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 30, after three weeks of previews. It originally announced a limited engagement through September 3, 2023. Lolita Chakrabarti’s stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s best-selling novel won 9 Olivier Awards in London, including a Best Actor Award for star Hiran Abeysekera for his portrayal of 16 year old Pi Patel. However, critics weren't too kind with the Broadway production, and the box office has been struggling. The Broadway show picked up just 3 Tony Awards : Best Scenic design, lighting design, and costumes - nothing to set the box office ablaze. Abeysekera leaves the show on July 9, and cast member Uma Paranjpe will take over the role on July 11 to close out the show. Paranjpe’s Pi will be portrayed as female in a gender-flipped version of Chakrabarti’s original script. The producers hope to kick off a North American tour in late 2024. 

 

The next show to announce it is closing was the revival of "Camelot", also set to close on July 23. The Lincoln Center revival which opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, was also set to run through September 3 (though they were open to an extension). The Aaron Sorkin directed production opened in previews on March 9, and had an official opening date of April 11. It was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical,  and didn't win any. Critics were harsh to the musical and the box office was just as harsh. (Ticket sales were near $1M the week of opening, and slipped to just over $700,000 when it announced its closing). Critics - and audiences - weren't excited with Sorkin's decision to move away from the 'fantasy' of the original musical (and subsequent revivals) and focus on the more woke 'social justice message' of the work.   A national tour is said to be underway, but no dates have been scheduled. 

 

As the box offices struggle this summer, look for more updated closings in this thread. (Rumored to be 'the next' are the musicals 'Some Like It Hot' and 'New York, New York' ). 

[foxy]

I liked both of these shows and I’m sad they are closing. I can’t understand why they didn’t find an audience. 

[Ali Gator]

NY POST said two weeks ago that 'New York, New York' is on its deathbed.

 

https://nypost.com/2023/07/10/broadways-new-york-new-york-could-close-in-weeks-sources/

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

On 7/22/2023 at 9:30 AM, Ali Gator said:

NY POST said two weeks ago that 'New York, New York' is on its deathbed.

 

https://nypost.com/2023/07/10/broadways-new-york-new-york-could-close-in-weeks-sources/

And cue NYNY posting their closing with 7 days notice.  Yikes.

‘New York, New York’ Will End Its Broadway Run - The New York Times

WWW.NYTIMES.COM

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The big-budget musical that tried to position itself as a nostalgic love letter to the city will close after a summer of dropping sales.

They have been hemorrhaging money for months.  The B/O has been rough.  I'm sure the producers want this down as quickly as possible.

Edited July 24, 2023 by BenjaminNicholas

[Ali Gator]

Per union rules, the producers have to pay their actors a full week. They could have closed after yesterday's performance, but would still have to pay actors / musicians / crew for a full week. I guess they figured they may as well keep it running for the week. 

[Ali Gator]

Along with "New York, New York" closing this Sunday, the Laure Metcalf led "Grey House" - billed as Broadway's rare 'thriller' - also posted a closing notice a few days ago. The show opened in previews on April 29, and officially opened on June 6, 2023.It never picked up at the box office - filling the house between 50% -70% during the past six weeks. 

 

Broadway’s ‘Grey House,’ Starring Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Sets July 30 Closing Date

WWW.HOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM

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The concept of horror is rare on Broadway, but the production was not able to translate that to ticket sales.

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Ali Gator