Is it just me or has it turned into Survivor: Broadway Edition!

Seriously I was thinking this BEFORE I saw the Memphis notice! This is crazy, all these long runs. Very sad.

"This is nothing! I remember a few years ago (Jan 2009) I think when there were only a handful of musicals and one play running on Broadway by the end of the month. That was a very sad time indeed."

I remember it well. That was when we knew that the economy was seriously effecting Broadway. 9 shows closed on one Sunday. There were many people out of work and in a panic. People with a laundry list of Broadway credits who hadn't attended an open call in years started showing up at open calls for regional theatres because there was no work.

Sad to see so many shows closing, but can't say it's really all that surprising. There's always a rash of shows that die right after the Tony Awards, especially in a year like this when so many new shows have already been announced for next season and are looking for homes.

I'm a little surprised Superstar tanked as quickly as it did--first weekend of previews it was almost impossible to get a ticket, now it's down to 50% capacity or so. Priscilla, Godspell and Sister Act have been in danger for quite some time now, so no real surprise there. The Lyons just seemed to open at the wrong time and got no real buzz whatsoever. Memphis has been struggling for a while now. And I'm sure Roundabout is thrilled with Anything Goes regardless of the earlier closing, because the earlier closing is still almost a full year longer than the original limited engagement was supposed to last (and who knows, maybe they intentionally extended it longer to generate box office--didn't they do the same thing with Assassins and a couple other shows a while back?)

And I'm pretty sure it's official now that Streetcar will be joining them towards the end of this month (they made an announcement maybe a week ago or so).

Premium seats have nothing to do with it. Most theaters drop the price if/when they don't sell. Shows that are closing had PLENTY of reg priced seats to sell.

Edited because I'm a terrible typist on my Fire

---

Updated On: 6/27/12 at 10:44 AM

The shows themselves aren't closing that close together, but all of these announcements coming right after each other is unusual. Post Tonys, there's usually a few announcements, but not this many.

I wonder what Anything Goes's break-even point is. It's only been below $450,000 once.

---

I have the some problem with my Fire, too. I found that using a stylus helps.

^^^ Beautifully said, JoeKv99, and true

---

I don't see it that way at all - some of these shows did great business and now their time is up, and they can make way for new hits, as they should.

Who wants more than 1/2 the available theatres occupied by one tenant each for 20 years? Do you really want to keep seeing the same shows over and over again?

Give us more to see.

Shows don't run forever, but crappy shows are known to make it through summer. Some of them aren't even making it past dinnertime. I understand that it's cyclical, like every two years or so there's a thinning (particularly if the product is insubstantial), but this many shows right in a row? Something's wrong with the model, chief.

---

Gee, do you maybe think that this thinning out process has to do with, maybe, that TICKETS ARE SELLING FOR $160 ???????

The answer lies in three little words: Zarkana.

---

It makes plenty of sense actually. It's big, it's flashy and people of all ages like Spiderman. With the new movie out it will only help them.