Broadway is packed this week with tourists and the like. You can barely get a seat to any show, and the restaurants in the theater district are full.
But come January 4th, the Great White Way will be singing a different tune. Several shows are in trouble at the box office and may close quickly.
Among them: “Superior Donuts” closes January 3rd despite solid reviews and an initial rush for tickets. The dreadful “Bye Bye Birdie,” which was already a limited run. Ditto Carrie Fisher’s wonderful “Wishful Drinking” at the subscription Roundabout Theater.
But these are the shows people are gossiping about in the theatre biz: “Ragtime,” “Burn the Floor,” “Hair,” “Memphis,” “God of Carnage,” and, believe it or not, “Fela!”
The latter is a surprise since Jay Z and Will and Jada Smith were faux drafted to endorse and support it. But only Jay showed at the opening, the press office has done nothing but create enemies, and now I’m told this by an inside source: “They’re papering the house. The tickets are so discounted, it’s impossible to make money.”
According to playbill.com, “Fela!” is playing at 89.5% capacity. But the average sold ticket is $77, a far cry from the official top price of $125.
Having even more trouble is the revival of “Finian’s Rainbow” at the St. James. This very terrific production is filling just 59% of its seats, and the average is a paltry $68.
If only that show’s publicist–same as “Fela!”– had done something early on to encourage positive endorsements. I took my family to see “Finian’s” on Saturday, ages 9 to 77, and everyone had a grand time. Kate Baldwin and Jim Norton are not big names, but they’re dynamite. Christopher Fitzgerald continues his hot streak, going from Igor in “Young Frankenstein” to the winning leprechaun here. And the score–”How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”– by Yip Harburg and Burton Lane–is out of this world. The show is as timely as ever, and a definite must for families, especially teenagers. You’d think it would be a natural hit.
But there may be no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.






December 28th, 2009 at 7:29 am
BURN THE FLOOR has already announced it’s closing date: 1/17/10
It’s not just ‘gossip’ it’s toast!
December 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am
“Bye Bye Birdie” is on the chopping block? I think you should check your facts. Even as trite as it is, tourists and subscribers have been flocking to this show. It has been showing to high capacities since its opening. Its limited run was even extended! It is/was definitely in no danger.
December 28th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 29th, 2009 at 7:01 am
[...] January 4th, several productions on the Great White Way will be ending their run and they’re not necessarily [...]
December 29th, 2009 at 11:40 am
[...] not even Cheyenne can compete with the recession in this country. Huge numbers of Broadway shows are closing or in trouble, and Cheyenne’s Finnian’s Rainbow is selling discount tickets and still only filling 59% of the [...]
December 29th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
[...] Last Jan. I wrote up how nine Broadway shows were going dark, well come this Jan., at least three more will join them as well as gossip of as many as six more. The three confirmed shows are: [...]
December 30th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Not all of what you’re talking about matches the facts – that is to say the grosses/house perctages for the last 4 weeks. It’s just cool to write a quick “doom and gloom” piece at this time of year so you can get back to your holiday.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I hate this! “Finian’s Rainbow” is the best Broadway show I have ever seen. The entire cast is brilliant, It will be a tragedy if this fabulous show closes. See it now if you haven’t… It is magic.