Audra MacDonald's "GYPSY" posts closing notice

[Ali Gator]

The highly anticipated musical revival of the 2024-25 season has announced an early closing due to a failing box office. 'GYPSY' starring Tony-nominated Audra MacDonald announced this evening that the show will close on August 17, instead of it's planned October 5 date. When it closes, it will have played 28 previews, 269 regular performances.

The show was first announced in January, 2024 with Audra MacDonald playing Mama Rose. The show was to reopen the newly renovated Majestic Theater, which housed 'Phantom of the Opera' for over three decades.  It was nominated for five Tonys, including best revival of a musical and best lead actress. The show lost both of those important awards to the revival of 'Sunset Blvd' (which closes this weekend). 

'Gypsy' had a strong advance, and got mostly mixed-to-good reviews when it opened in December, 2024. It got off to a rocky start before the new year, being closed due to illness (COVID) among the cast members, losing most of the holiday NY tourists. After that, it was reported that Audra was missing many performances, word of mouth was bad, and the box office dropped steadily by early March, when advanced tickets were already counted for.

It was announced in late May that MacDonald would be taking the first week of July off, and Montego Glover would be filling in - which saw the box office hit rock bottom (most of the theater was closed off, and attendance was around 40% each night). It was also announced Montego would be covering every Sunday matinee going forward. As of early this week, ticket sales for the rest of July and August were non-existent. 

When the show closes, it's expected to lose its entire investment. It will be the shortest revival of GYPSY since the Angela Lansbury revival in 1974-75 (but that short run was planned to be a short run).  Even the much criticized Bernadette Peters revival (2003) ran longer. 

[Ali Gator]

If anyone wants tickets to see GYPSY this Sunday afternoon, you're in luck ! As of right now, there's less than 100 seats sold. Back in June, Audra said she wouldn't be doing Sunday matinees once she returned from her vacation on July 8.  Apparently, the closing notice has changed her mind as she was back this past Sunday. 

[ShortCutie7]

5 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

If anyone wants tickets to see GYPSY this Sunday afternoon, you're in luck ! As of right now, there's less than 100 seats sold. Back in June, Audra said she wouldn't be doing Sunday matinees once she returned from her vacation on July 8.  Apparently, the closing notice has changed her mind as she was back this past Sunday. 

Per the Gypsy Facebook page, Montego Glover will be on this Sunday.

Gypsy on Broadway

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM

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3 chances left to see Tony nominee Montego Glover take on the mother of all roles in GYPSY. Sunday 7/27, 8/3 and 8/10 at 3PM 🌹 📸: @marcjfranklin

 

[Ali Gator]

Maybe that's why tickets aren't selling. At this point, why continue for the next few weeks ? They should shut this down ASAP.  When they do close on August 17, it's expected to lose their entire $19M investment. It will fo down as one of the biggest flops for the 2024-25 season, as well as 'Gypsy' revivals (this is the fifth). 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

5 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

When they do close on August 17, it's expected to lose their entire $19M investment. It will fo down as one of the biggest flops for the 2024-25 season, as well as 'Gypsy' revivals (this is the fifth). 

The producers made a big deal about "color-conscience" casting, hoping that would make up for lackluster scenery and directing, when the color they should have focused on was the green.

[ShortCutie7]

8 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

Maybe that's why tickets aren't selling. At this point, why continue for the next few weeks ? They should shut this down ASAP.  When they do close on August 17, it's expected to lose their entire $19M investment. It will fo down as one of the biggest flops for the 2024-25 season, as well as 'Gypsy' revivals (this is the fifth). 

Continuing for the next few weeks will allow people who either haven’t seen it yet or want to see it again a chance to do so.  Usually sales go up after a closing announcement, so they would be losing the revenue from what would probably be a profitable few weeks.  I wish Boop had stuck around a few more weeks, as well.

[jeezifonly]

It’s all about Merch. And Gypsy, as a show, doesn’t have the cute angle for selling it. 😏

[Ali Gator]

20 hours ago, ShortCutie7 said:

Continuing for the next few weeks will allow people who either haven’t seen it yet or want to see it again a chance to do so.  

Yes, but those dozen people you refer to can see it this Sunday at the matinee (where about 80% of seats are still unsold) and then the show can close. No need for it to limp along for another three weeks. Put this out of it's misery, and save MacDonald and the cast from further embarrassment. 

[Ali Gator]

19 hours ago, jeezifonly said:

It’s all about Merch. And Gypsy, as a show, doesn’t have the cute angle for selling it. 😏

Funny you say this - some people have said there was more merchandise for the show stocked up at the back of the theater than there were people sitting in the seats at most performances. No one bought anything at intermission or the end of the show - I guess this isn't a show they want to 'remember'. 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

21 hours ago, jeezifonly said:

It’s all about Merch. And Gypsy, as a show, doesn’t have the cute angle for selling it. 😏

Did they have the stripper costumes available for sale in the lobby?  I want to buy the twinkle costume to wear at Christmas! 

 

Edited July 26 by Vegas_Millennial