So within the past week, a trio of shows currently running on Broadway have posted their closing notices for next month. Not only that, but all three of them will end up losing quite a bit of money. That is what’s tough about the business of Broadway, only one out of every five shows end up recouping their investments.
So what shows are closing?
Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812
Closing on September 3rd
Since it started performances back in the fall, The Great Comet was grossing over $1,000,000 almost every single week until July 2nd as its original Pierre, Josh Groban, ended his run with the show on that date. From July 3rd through August 13th, recording artist Ingrid Michaelson went in for Brittain Ashford as Sonya as a way to help keep business afloat after Groban’s departure. Okieriete Onaodowan (also known as ‘Oak’), an original cast member from Hamilton, was announced to be taking over for Josh Groban from July 3rd through September 3rd, but he ended up starting one week later than planned. His run was then cut even shorter when Mandy Patinkin was announced to be coming in as Pierre for three weeks from August 15th through September 3rd. This would’ve been Patinkin’s first acting credit on Broadway since Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party back in 2000. Yet, many people expressed dismay over the fact that Onaodowan, an African-American performer, was going to be replaced by a white performer three weeks earlier than planned. So therefore, Patinkin chose to withdraw. Thus, the producers had no choice but to close early because despite The Great Comet receiving the most Tony nominations of any show last season, the Broadway production was too expensive to run without a major star in the cast.
Bandstand
Closing on September 17th
This was a completely original musical that came into last season with very little buzz, yet got a much better critical response than what a lot of people expected. Despite not receiving a Best Musical nomination, Bandstand still received a major presence on the Tony Awards with a performance introduced by Dr. Jill Biden, and a win for Best Choreography. Though that was apparently not enough to help the show in the long-run.
Groundhog Day
Closing on September 17th
Despite having a successful world premiere in London’s West End where it won two Olivier Awards (including Best New Musical), Groundhog Day was met with a lot of problems during its Broadway run. First, the set malfunctioned on the first preview, which led to the cast performing a concert version of the show, then Andy Karl tore his ACL very late into previews, yet was able to finish the performance, and return on opening night three days later. Yet, despite some glowing notices on this side of the pond as well as seven Tony nominations (including Best Musical), it never really caught on at the box office. The star of the original film, Bill Murray, was able to give the musical adaptation some headlines last week when he finally saw the show not once, but twice, and visited the cast backstage both times he attended. Though it was still not enough as Groundhog Day is simply just too expensive to run on Broadway. This is another example of ‘just because your musical is based on a popular movie, doesn’t mean it’s gonna be a hit’.
If you’re planning to be in New York within the next month, this is your last chance to catch all three of these productions.
So what shows are closing?
Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812
Closing on September 3rd
Since it started performances back in the fall, The Great Comet was grossing over $1,000,000 almost every single week until July 2nd as its original Pierre, Josh Groban, ended his run with the show on that date. From July 3rd through August 13th, recording artist Ingrid Michaelson went in for Brittain Ashford as Sonya as a way to help keep business afloat after Groban’s departure. Okieriete Onaodowan (also known as ‘Oak’), an original cast member from Hamilton, was announced to be taking over for Josh Groban from July 3rd through September 3rd, but he ended up starting one week later than planned. His run was then cut even shorter when Mandy Patinkin was announced to be coming in as Pierre for three weeks from August 15th through September 3rd. This would’ve been Patinkin’s first acting credit on Broadway since Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party back in 2000. Yet, many people expressed dismay over the fact that Onaodowan, an African-American performer, was going to be replaced by a white performer three weeks earlier than planned. So therefore, Patinkin chose to withdraw. Thus, the producers had no choice but to close early because despite The Great Comet receiving the most Tony nominations of any show last season, the Broadway production was too expensive to run without a major star in the cast.
Bandstand
Closing on September 17th
This was a completely original musical that came into last season with very little buzz, yet got a much better critical response than what a lot of people expected. Despite not receiving a Best Musical nomination, Bandstand still received a major presence on the Tony Awards with a performance introduced by Dr. Jill Biden, and a win for Best Choreography. Though that was apparently not enough to help the show in the long-run.
Groundhog Day
Closing on September 17th
Despite having a successful world premiere in London’s West End where it won two Olivier Awards (including Best New Musical), Groundhog Day was met with a lot of problems during its Broadway run. First, the set malfunctioned on the first preview, which led to the cast performing a concert version of the show, then Andy Karl tore his ACL very late into previews, yet was able to finish the performance, and return on opening night three days later. Yet, despite some glowing notices on this side of the pond as well as seven Tony nominations (including Best Musical), it never really caught on at the box office. The star of the original film, Bill Murray, was able to give the musical adaptation some headlines last week when he finally saw the show not once, but twice, and visited the cast backstage both times he attended. Though it was still not enough as Groundhog Day is simply just too expensive to run on Broadway. This is another example of ‘just because your musical is based on a popular movie, doesn’t mean it’s gonna be a hit’.
If you’re planning to be in New York within the next month, this is your last chance to catch all three of these productions.