A WONDERFUL WORLD To Close on February 23, 2025

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 7:36pm

31 previews and 120 regular Broadway performances.

https://playbill.com/article/louis-armstrong-biomusical-a-wonderful-world-sets-final-broadway-performance

Updated On: 1/25/25 at 07:36 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 7:48pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "31 previews and 120 regular Broadway performances.

https://playbill.com/article/louis-armstrong-biomusical-a-wonderful-world-sets-final-broadway-performance"

Surprised they're waiting that long. Their grosses are well below their weekly nut.

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:09pm

Whaaaaaat? They were sold out every night! I don’t understand why they’re closing?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:09pm

Wonder if a Studio 54 rental will open there before the Tony cutoff? Timing is tight but doable if something has just come together and is ready to go.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:12pm

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Whaaaaaat? They were sold out every night! I don’t understand why they’re closing?"

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or ignorant but in any case...they haven't played a single week where every seat was sold-out. Best weeks were about 91%.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:14pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Wonder if a Studio 54 rental will open there before the Tony cutoff? Timing is tight but doable if something has just come together and is ready to go."

It probably won’t run at Studio 54, but I imagine the producers of THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE are salivating right now with AWW about to be out of the picture in NY. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:32pm

Also, will this show be doing a Broadway cast recording? It would be a shame if Branford Marsalis’s orchestrations weren’t captured in some way. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:34pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "It probably won’t run at Studio 54, but I imagine the producers of THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE are salivating right now with AWW about to be out of the picture in NY."

I somehow missed that had played not one but TWO out of towns now! I thought it was premiering later in 2025 at La Jolla, but I'm a year behind...

It's economical, as far as jukebox musicals go. 9 in the onstage cast (call it 14 with swings) and 7 in the band for the Canadian engagement.

Who's producing?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:39pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "It probably won’t run at Studio 54, but I imagine the producers of THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE are salivating right now with AWW about to be out of the picture in NY."

I somehow missed that had played not one but TWO out of towns now! I thought it was premiering later in 2025 at La Jolla, but I'm a year behind...

It's economical, as far as jukebox musicals go. 9 in the onstage cast (call it 14 with swings) and 7 in the band for the Canadian engagement.

Who's producing?"

Tommy Mottola and Dodger Theatricals were attached earlier in development. 

[The8re phan]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 8:57pm

i wonder if Studio 54 might be a good fit for Cats: the Jellicle Ball

should be fairly easy to re-configure the floor seats to a runway/thrust.

Not this season, but maybe summer/early fall?

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 9:02pm

Could the City Center production of “Ragtime” transfer in before Tony Awards cutoff and play a very limited engagement from April through Labor Day?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 9:07pm

NEXT TO NORMAL?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 9:08pm

brdwybound04 said: "Could the CityCenter production of “Ragtime” transfer in before Tony Awards cutoff and play a very limited engagement from April through Labor Day?"

Latest rumor is that it will play LCT in Lear DeBessonet's inaugural season.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 9:18pm

If roundabout had the balls they would close this down for a massive refurbishment.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 9:32pm

Call_me_jorge said: "If roundabout had the balls they would close this down for a massive refurbishment."

You don't like the 2 inches of legroom and the leopard print carpet??

As much as I'd like a reno, I don't think Roundabout is in the place to spend millions on an overhaul without a capital campaign or some big new donor.

I'm sure ATG and others have offered them a handsome sum for it.

Updated On: 1/25/25 at 09:32 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 10:31pm

I accurately predicted this would happen. It was gonna have enough gas to last through February, but the onslaught of new shows would make a bad situation worse so they are packing it in. This marks two early closures for Iglehart in back to back seasons - yikes.

Honestly, they would be foolish not to take advantage of the history of the space and flip it to give us CATS: The JELLICLE Ball. They’ve been aiming for a summer opening (from what I’ve been told) so this gives them time to get on that

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 10:49pm

CATS would be great in there.

Whatever's coming next has likely been in the works for a while. The writing has been on the wall for Armstrong (it's not like they made this decision today) and theatre owners are always looking ahead.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 11:26pm

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Whaaaaaat? They were sold out every night! I don’t understand why they’re closing?"

Who hurt you to make you the way you are? SMH

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 12:15am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "CATS would be great in there.

Whatever's coming next has likely been in the works for a while. The writing has been on the wall for Armstrong(it's not like they made this decision today) and theatre owners are always looking ahead."

The decision wasn’t made today - but they told the cast between shows today. Yikes.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 12:22am

quizking101 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "CATS would be great in there.

Whatever's coming next has likely been in the works for a while. The writing has been on the wall for Armstrong(it's not like they made this decision today) and theatre owners are always looking ahead."

The decision wasn’t made today - but they told the cast between shows today. Yikes."

They got a four week notice? How is that something to be disgruntled about? Most shows post closing notices a week ahead.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 1:00am

quizking101 said: "The decision wasn’t made today - but they told the cast between shows today. Yikes."

That's very generous of them to give the cast four weeks' notice and inform them between shows, instead of at half-hour.

Casts are rarely ever given notice in advance of announcing. News spreads like wildfire and the press release gets scheduled to go out as soon as the cast/crew/production staff/investors are informed. And there's still a belief that the cast should be informed in-person.

Announcing on a Saturday night is also a strategic move to bury the announcement. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 3:40am

I suppose you guys are right. I was just thinking about how they did it between shows on a Saturday - like “Congrats on finishing one. BTW, we’re closing. Now go do another…”

I didn’t necessarily think about the recent spate of shows that have made announcements at the worst times, if I’m at all. 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 8:41am

Cats Cats Cats let’s go ! They also have to wait for Andre to be done with Hadestown etc 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 8:43am

What you’re describing is how EVERY musical posts closing notice. If Equity had a problem with it they would have gone on strike years ago.

I’m still surprised Equity hasn’t struck in an effort to force producers to pay out salaries — even a small percent of salary — for the original # of contracted weeks. e.g. “If you want to contract everyone for 52 weeks and post closing notice due to low sales after 10 weeks, you need to pay them 20% of salary for the remaining 42 weeks.” It would upend the entire Broadway musical business model and bond process.

Updated On: 1/26/25 at 08:43 AM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 9:08am

WldKingdomHM said: "Cats Cats Cats let’s go ! They also have to wait for Andre to be done with Hadestown etc"

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