32 previews and 84 regular performances.
Krysta Rodriguez, I will avenge your name and get you cast in the anniversary production of A Chorus Line!!!!
To be real though, always hate seeing people lose their jobs, but thought this whole script was a slap to the face of anyone who loved the original show, or, quite frankly, Marilyn herself.
Smash had a pretty quick fall. Just a couple weeks ago, it was looking to still be in much better shape than a show like Boop or RWHC and might make it through the summer. But the wheels fell off quickly which is almost worse than chugging along at a low number. It showed audience rejection more than just audience disinterest or lack of awareness.
Why they didn't just do Bombshell, I'll never understand.
FolliesCabaret said: "KrystaRodriguez, I willavenge your name and get you cast in the anniversary production of A Chorus Line!!!!
To be real though, always hate seeing people lose their jobs, but thought this whole scriptwas a slap to the face of anyone who loved the original show, or, quite frankly, Marilyn herself."
I couldn’t have said this better myself. Its best asset (the score) wasn’t even eligible for everything because it all came from the TV show. I’m still shocked Bergasse got into choreography because many of those routines were also from the show.
I’m more sad than anything because there was a decade of hype leading up to this and we got this lead balloon
Surprised this is the first out of the four everyone has listed to announce a closing. I'll attend the final performance. Apparently their advance sales were very bleak.
Stand-by Joined: 1/26/24
quizking101 said: "FolliesCabaret said: "KrystaRodriguez, I willavenge your name and get you cast in the anniversary production of A Chorus Line!!!!
To be real though, always hate seeing people lose their jobs, but thought this whole scriptwas a slap to the face of anyone who loved the original show, or, quite frankly, Marilyn herself."
I couldn’t have said this better myself. Its best asset (the score) wasn’t even eligible for everything because it all came from the TV show. I’m still shocked Bergasse got into choreography because many of those routines were also from the show.
I’m more sad than anything because there was a decade of hype leading up to this and we got this lead balloon"
Agree. It was my second least favorite show next to Redwood of a very good season. Hope everyone finds a job soon.
FolliesCabaret said: "KrystaRodriguez, I willavenge your name and get you cast in the anniversary production of A Chorus Line!!!!
To be real though, always hate seeing people lose their jobs, but thought this whole scriptwas a slap to the face of anyone who loved the original show, or, quite frankly, Marilyn herself."
And although the haters of this show are EXTREMELY vocal, a lot of other people loved it, including me.
The question still remains who was this actually for? The show had a cult following of 12 people. Than chucked away what made these 12 people super fans. It’s was designed to fail.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/20/08
Mr. Wormwood said: "Smash had a pretty quick fall. Just a couple weeks ago, it was looking to still be in much better shape than a show like Boop or RWHC and might make it through the summer. But the wheels fell off quickly which is almost worse than chugging along at a low number. It showed audience rejection more than just audience disinterest or lack of awareness.
Why they didn't just do Bombshell, I'll never understand."
I saw a recent video on Youtube that describes the evolution of Let Me Be You're Star, where the composers said that doing Bombshell was not possible. They are going to die on that hill.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/8/19
We were in NYC the weekend before the Tony Awards, went to TKTS to buy DBH, were advised by the staff that both stars were out (this was for the Saturday night performance), pivoted to Smash and so glad we did. We really enjoyed it and seemingly so did the rest of the audience. While we were not obsessed with the TV series, we did see both seasons and thought it was quite fun. Don't quite understand how so many people hated the series, but also resented Smash for not being the series.
We also got fantastic 1/2 price front center Orchestra seats for Pirates and Dead Outlaw, and saw Just In Time (favorite of the weekend) and Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, paying full price in advance, of course.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/13/13
Sad to see it go but not surprised. Haven’t seen a mezz as empty as last weeks in a bit. Best wishes to cast and crew.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/22
"I’m more sad than anything because there was a decade of hype leading up to this and we got this lead balloon"
Exactly. People were hoping for years this would make it to Broadway and when it did, they literally destroyed it. Too many changes from the TV series which had a Season One script that needed some tweaking/cutting not radical overhaul. Ok, the producers said you could not do a "Bombshell" show but at least don't cut up the songs you loved from the show into snippets.
The only thing that makes me sad about this closing is Casey’s face won’t be on the Imperial door anymore.
theatergoer3 said: "Sad to see it go but not surprised. Haven’t seen a mezz as empty as last weeks in a bit. Best wishes to cast and crew."
I sat front mezzanine at Hunter College for this last year, and attendance was very nearly as empty on that level. The digital lottery was free!
I feel bad for everyone who will soon be out of work, especially Casey Garvin’s calves
Swing Joined: 1/28/25
Mr. Wormwood said: "Smash had a pretty quick fall. Just a couple weeks ago, it was looking to still be in much better shape than a show like Boop or RWHC and might make it through the summer. But the wheels fell off quickly which is almost worse than chugging along at a low number. It showed audience rejection more than just audience disinterest or lack of awareness.
Why they didn't just do Bombshell, I'll never understand."
It would be too taxing on the voice to do bombshell 8 times a week. Unless they did like 3 different Marilyns but like would it really make sense to do that in terms of the plot of Bombshell.
Call_me_jorge said: "I feel bad for everyone who will soon be out of work, especially Casey Garvin’s calves"
Gonna make me cry. :(
Playbill's 'breaking news' headline is : "Smash Announces Abrupt Closing on Broadway"
I could see if the show was closing for good after tonight's performance, or in the next day or two. But giving notice it's closing in about two weeks - is that really considered an 'abrupt closing' ? I'd say it was an 'abrupt notice' but not an 'abrupt closing' .
https://playbill.com/article/smash-announces-abrupt-closing-on-broadway
rosscoe(au) said: "The question still remains who was this actually for? The show had a cult following of 12 people. Than chucked away what made these 12 people super fans. It’s was designed to fail."
This.
A friend who is a Star Wars & Broadway nerd said it reminded him of THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (the final of the most recent Star Wars trilogy) - they took all the wrong lessons away from what worked before and instead created something for nobody.
I’m baffled that this show made it to Broadway in this state following the workshop last year, and that they took something soapy and campy and turned it into this sorry attempt at musical comedy.
I’m only surprised it lasted *this* long, but that Jesse Green review helped them a bit.
A sad waste of talent and money.
Stand-by Joined: 11/19/06
Call_me_jorge said: "I feel bad for everyone who will soon be out of work, especially Casey Garvin’s calves"
you guys are getting real strange, and this cast won’t be out of work long. they’re always in shows.
ACL2006 said: "Surprised this is the first out of the four everyone has listed to announce a closing. I'll attend the final performance. Apparently their advance sales were very bleak." I'm sad that SMASH is closing. But, I am happy /fortunate that I'll see its last performance on Sunday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m. It will be my first time to attend a final performance of a show.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/17
Of Stro's two shows this season, Left on Tenth will actually have the longer run- 147 performances (counting previews) vs 116 for Smash
Swing Joined: 1/28/25
TennisFan said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "Smash had a pretty quick fall. Just a couple weeks ago, it was looking to still be in much better shape than a show like Boop or RWHC and might make it through the summer. But the wheels fell off quickly which is almost worse than chugging along at a low number. It showed audience rejection more than just audience disinterest or lack of awareness.
Why they didn't just do Bombshell, I'll never understand."
It would be too taxing on the voice to do bombshell 8 times a week. Unless they did like 3 different Marilyns but like would it really make sense to do that in terms of the plot of Bombshell."
The only way I could have seen it being done is in a revue-format.
rosscoe(au) said: "The question still remains who was this actually for? The show had a cult following of 12 people. Than chucked away what made these 12 people super fans. It’s was designed to fail."
When it was announced, most people here defended it as a TV show with a trillion followers that would make it run for centuries on title recognition alone.
Please, even if faithful to the source material, it was always so niche that no one would've bothered.
It's always sad to see creatives out of the job.
That said, Stro needs to take a break for awhile. First NYNY and now SMASH. Yikes.
... Unless she finally brings Crazy For You back.
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