THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL to close on June 23

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 9:55am

https://www.theatermania.com/news/the-heart-of-rock-and-roll-to-end-broadway-run-this-weekend_1743295/

Producers announced today that the Broadway musical The Heart of Rock and Roll will play its final performance on Sunday, June 23. The show will have played 24 previews and 72 performances.

Updated On: 6/18/24 at 09:55 AM

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:00am

Well, I wonder what took them so long...

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:00am

I figured it would run at least through til July. Less than a week notice is never fun, but maybe the cast already knew. Hope they have some big crowds for their last shows! McKenzie Kurtz is a star!

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:01am

I enjoyed the show so much more than I had ever expected! So much fun, super talented cast, lots of highlights to stay in my memory!

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:02am

There. I hope the doom posters are happy now.

I plan to try and go to closing if I can 

[Mr.Liir]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:04am

Cast, etc., was told last week.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:06am

😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 

[Kad]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:12am

Considering all the things it had in its favor, from decent reviews to positive word-of-mouth to being a family-friendly fun show in a season that skewed more adult and serious, it does seem like the producers struggled to capitalize on all of it. The marketing was not engaging and the large focus on Huey Lewis as the main selling point likely didn't appeal to a broader audience.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:24am

I agree that McKenzie is a star. Never thought I would have wanted to hear It Hit Me Like a Hammer ever again until I heard her do it.  This show was an unexpected treat this season.

Updated On: 6/18/24 at 10:24 AM

[In The Jackson Heights]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:28am

Not surprising, but sad nonetheless.  

I'm glad I got to see it twice.  Good fun! 

Updated On: 6/18/24 at 10:28 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:34am

This was the kind of musical that would have been a sleeper hit, say, about 10 (or even 20) years ago. Shucked and Some Like It Hot would probably also apply here.

Sleeper hits cannot and do not exist post-COVID partially because of today’s ridiculous prices, while audiences are already built-in fans of A-list celebs or some other big selling point, and cannot be built up. 

Death Becomes Her will be a similar victim, as will Tammy Faye (dependent on who they get as Jim). 

 

 

Updated On: 6/18/24 at 10:34 AM

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:39am

Got my ticket for closing. Such a fun musical. Great cast and wish them the best! 
 

I think this show caters to the same demographic as A Beautiful Noise which is closing end of this month.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:44am

Not unexpected, but still sad. It was a highlight of the season for me. I imagine this will do well regionally, on tour, in schools; it’s just too bad it couldn’t catch on during a busy Tony season on Broadway.

Go see this if you can!

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 10:52am

Obviously not surprising but I am disappointed because I was hoping it would hang on long enough for me to catch it this summer

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:11am

I hate it when shows give a one week closing notice. Since the cast found out last week, it should have been announced last week at least.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:12am

Unfortunately not surprising, but not giving two weeks notice does seem a little unusual.  

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:20am

Whaaaaat???? It’s closing!!!!?

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:23am

Jonathan Cohen said: "Unfortunately not surprising, but not giving two weeks notice does seem a little unusual."

 

I believe it's more of a marketing strategy. Like they believe people will rush to buy tickets knowing there's just 6 days left to see the show. Whereas if they announce 2 weeks prior, they fear people might forget its closing date, perhaps.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:25am

This show rubbed me the wrong way.  The entire time they’re like, “I gave up my dream to work in this crappy job.”  The best part was the choreo, I agree hit me like a hammer was stunning. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:31am

Jonathan Cohen said: "Unfortunately not surprising, but not giving two weeks notice does seem a little unusual."

As someone stated above (and has also been said by castmembers on social), the cast was informed a while ago. I don't know about everyone else in the theatre, but it's highly unusual to let them know in advance of an announcement and even more unusual that nobody squealed.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:32am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Unfortunately not surprising, but not giving two weeks notice does seem a little unusual."

As someone stated above (and has also been said by castmembers on social), the cast was informed a while ago. I don't know about everyone else in the theatre, but it's highly unusual to let them know in advance of an announcement and even more unusual that nobody squealed."

Oh, don’t worry, the squealers will be full-throated when Notebook posts its notice in the coming days. ;)

[MezzoDiva47]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:43am

quizking101 said: "There. I hope the doom posters are happy now.

I plan to try and go to closing if I can"

 

no one with any credibility is celebrating this news

but it defied all producing common sense and fiduciary responsibility to stay open after burning through the fixed costs of $20 million and then burning through the variable cost losses of $400K every week it stayed open

in another article their lead producer announced the implausible likelihood of a national tour which every lead producer of every broadway flop announces when they give a closing notice in a futile attempt to put a positive spin on what is simply bad news

not sure what struggling tour houses across the country will find appealing to market - ‘the broadway hit you’ve never even heard of that lasted a whole two months and lost its entire investment’

maybe they can tour it in repertory with lempicka

 

Updated On: 6/18/24 at 11:43 AM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:47am

EDSOSLO858 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Unfortunately not surprising, but not giving two weeks notice does seem a little unusual."

As someone stated above (and has also been said by castmembers on social), the cast was informed a while ago. I don't know about everyone else in the theatre, but it's highly unusual to let them know in advance of an announcement and even more unusual that nobody squealed."

Oh, don’t worry, the squealers will be full-throated whenNotebookposts its notice in the coming days. ;)"

Have you heard rumors that's happening??

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:54am

MezzoDiva47 said: "in another article their lead producer announced the implausible likelihood of a national tourwhich every lead producer of every broadway flop announces when they give a closing notice in a futile attempt to put a positive spin on what is simply bad news

not sure what struggling tour houses across the country will find appealing to market - ‘the broadway hit you’ve never even heard of that lasted a whole two months and lost its entire investment’"

I'll believe it when I see it but this getting a tour wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world, especially a non-Equity tour with split-weeks. Having a score by Huey Lewis gives it a leg up over an original score of a flop. BRIGHT STAR, of all things, got a tour.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 12:12pm

No surprise, unfortunately.  When my friend and I saw it last month, on a Saturday matinee, we were in the Mezz, and the Mezz was only half full.  Enjoyed the show very much.  Just so much fun!