Most Unexpected Closing Announcement

[jacobsnchz14]

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

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:17am

It 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.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:24am

Well, I guess to me it was. IDK. Maybe it was more unexpected because I loved the show.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

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%.

Updated On: 10/15/08 at 07:26 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:29am

Yeah, 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.

[adamgreer]

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]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 7:58am

Beauty 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]

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]

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'!

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 8:56am

none 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.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 9:00am

Mealz, 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.

[BestOfBothWorlds]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 9:05am

I'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.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 9:46am

Going 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.

[WithoutATrace]

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]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:26am

HAIRSPRAY. 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!

[SillySara]

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?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:30am

Night. Opening Night.

This isn't a baseball game.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:31am

The 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.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:31am

The 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.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 10:32am

That production of NORMAL HEART was magnificent.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 12:19pm

Urinetown basically closed because their theatre was being torn down.

Really should have moved, however.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 12:28pm

In London, the original production of Hair closed on the eve of its 2000th performance when the theatre's roof fell in!

[blondebaby589]

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.

[JRybka]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 1:27pm

Okay 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.

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 10/15/08 at 1:59pm

A Chorus Line