Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#1Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:14am
I haven't been on the board for that long, but from what I have experienced I'd have to say the most unexpected closing announcement for me was in 2007 when Beauty and the Beast was closing and (maybe) when Legally Blonde announced their closing.
Updated On: 8/21/16 at 07:14 AM
#2re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:17amIt was common knowledge that WEST SIDE STORY had the Palace booked way back at the start of July for February 2009, so LEGALLY BLONDE's closing notice wasn't much of a surprise. The question was just whether they were going to hold it out until New Years or close up shop right after Columbus Day.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#2re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:24amWell, I guess to me it was. IDK. Maybe it was more unexpected because I loved the show.
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#3re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:26am
XANADU, same with Beauty and the beast and Tarzan, especially because Beauty wasn't losing that much and Tarzan was at 60%.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
Updated On: 10/15/08 at 07:26 AM
#4re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:29amYeah, pretty much every LEGALLY BLONDE fanatic ignored the fact that the show's shelf life was running out and insisted it was going to run for years (allofmylife, where have you disappeared to?) but those willing to face reality knew that the show has been regularly comped for the past six months and that it wouldn't make it through the end of 2008.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#5re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:30am
How was LB's closing unexpected?
Their numbers took a huge dive after Labor Day.
I love the show to death, but its closing was not unexpected.
broadwayboy522
Leading Actor Joined: 5/6/06
#6re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:58amBeauty and the Beast, sure it wasn't selling out but it was still making money. The only reason it closed was to make way for The Little Mermaid. Legally Blonde was just a surprise because I expected it to close like December 28
StageFan2
Broadway Star Joined: 4/8/07
#7re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 8:36am
The 'Curtains' closing announcement last March caught me totally off guard. I knew it wasn't setting any records, but I thought it would run until at least Labor Day. Most recently, Xanadu. I thought this would run through the holidays. Shows ya what I know. 
MamasDoin'Fine
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/28/08
#8re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 8:45am
'Dance A Little Closer' May 11th 1983.
There wasn't one!
The got to be known as 'Close A Little Faster'!
#9re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 8:56amnone of the recent closing announcements have been huge shockers for me. I guess I'd say Hairspray just because it's always been one of those shows you kind of just assume is there and don't think about it actually closing. But maybe that's just me.
<-- Gwen Stewart, SOLoist at the last show of RENT
Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words. (Tick, Tick... BOOM!)
Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words. (Tick, Tick... BOOM!)
SNLMedia
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/6/05
#10re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 9:00amMealz, I agree with you. Hairspray is one of those shows you can't imagine not being on Broadway when you come to New York. The all-but-official announcement was surprising to me.
"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball
#11re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 9:05amI'm gonna have to throw Glory Days out there. I saw it in previews and knew that it was a wreck, but if I said I saw it closing on opening night I'd have been lying.
#12re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 9:46amGoing back a ways, I would like to add "Rags" and "Me and My Girl" to the nominees. They worked and worked on "Rags" and I think they thought they finally had it right. And "Me and My Girl" could have run six months longer, but closed to make way for "Annie II," and we all know how that turned out.
#13re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:19am
After I had seen Glory Days, I had predicted it was going to be another Home Sweet Homer, so its closing announcement was not a shock to me.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=965287#3546454
The one I was most shocked about was probably Tarzan.
zamedy
Broadway Star Joined: 6/27/07
#14re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:26amHAIRSPRAY. Totally shocker and downer for me too. It was having a few slow weeks but had been enjoying a pretty strong year. At least fans of 'the Spray' can look at it this way... our big girl is going out strong, and not because the show's playing to half capacity each week. Love you HAIRSPRAY!
#15re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:27am
I think the WAY that Xanadu ended up closing was extremely shocking. The October 12th closing date was surprising enough, but then when they released on the Tuesday the 23rd that it would be closing September 28th, I couldn't believe it.
I also agree that Glory Days closing on opening day was extremely surprising. I mean, I didn't see it but also didn't hear anything good about it...but who would have thought that it would close on opening day?
#16re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:30am
Night. Opening Night.
This isn't a baseball game.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
twogaab2
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
#17re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:31amThe production of "Normal Heart" with Raul Esparza. Not because it was doing such good business (it wasn't) but that the announcement was made so fast (show closed on the day it was announced). The least notice I have ever seen. Too bad as the production was really superb.
TWOGAAB
"A Class Act" will never die!
#18re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:31amThe Xanadu closing was pretty odd. I also remember the 42nd Street revival and Movin' Out closing notices to seem somewhat premature. And the Urinetown closing was a real kick in the teeth.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#19re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:32amThat production of NORMAL HEART was magnificent.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#20re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 12:19pm
Urinetown basically closed because their theatre was being torn down.
Really should have moved, however.
Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08
#21re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 12:28pmIn London, the original production of Hair closed on the eve of its 2000th performance when the theatre's roof fell in!
#22re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 1:21pm
"I think the WAY that Xanadu ended up closing was extremely shocking. The October 12th closing date was surprising enough, but then when they released on the Tuesday the 23rd that it would be closing September 28th, I couldn't believe it."
Agreed. And I add Hairspray to my unexpected list.
www.tinydancer5.tumblr.com
#23re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 1:27pmOkay I am really going back with this one but RAGTIME was a huge shock (and very sad to me) -- I would say without a doubt that it is my favorite musical ever and thought that it was what musical theater was about. Laughter, Tears, Heart, Soul and it made you think about yourself. And the music was glorious. And it closed WAY too soon.
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
Zeitoujo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/3/06
#24re: Most Unexpected Closing Announcement
Posted: 10/15/08 at 1:59pmA Chorus Line
"Those You've Known And Lost Still Walk Behind You"-Spring Awakening
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