THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 12:00am

This time this year!

The lavish new musical The Queen of Versailles starts constructing its mansion at the St. James Theatre tomorrow night (October 8) before a November 10 press opening. Leading the principal cast are Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham; also featured are Melody Butiu, Stephen DeRosa, Greg Hildreth, Tatum Grace Hopkins, Isabel Keating, and Nina White. The Queen of Versailles features an original score by Stephen Schwartz (reuniting him with Chenoweth for the first time since Wicked), with a book by Lindsey Ferrentino, choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, and direction by Michael Arden.

“From computer engineer to Mrs. Florida to billionairess, Jackie Siegel sees herself as the embodiment of the American Dream. Now, as the wife of David ‘The Timeshare King’ Siegel and mother of their eight children, she invites us to behold their most grandiose venture yet: a $100 million house in Orlando, Florida, big enough for her dreams and inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But with the Great Recession of 2008 looming, Jackie and David’s dreams begin to crumble, along with their lavish lifestyle.”

Who’s going?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 4:37am

This thread should be fun! 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 5:52am

I'm going this weekend, and I'm looking forward to it in a weird way.

[rachelfran]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:23am

First lottery appeared on lucky seat today for tomorrow and I won. Still not sure I'll go but it was a suprise as it's been awhile since I've won one. 

 

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:27am

rachelfran said: "First lottery appeared on lucky seat today for tomorrow and I won. Still not sure I'll go but it was a suprise as it's been awhile since I've won one.

"

 

Updated On: 10/7/25 at 10:27 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:40am

This is not selling at all. Curious if anyone did in person rush and how many people were there?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:45am

ACL2006 said: "This is not selling at all. Curious if anyone did in person rush and how many people were there?"

First preview is tomorrow, so there's no in-person rush today.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:47am

Sales really are abysmal for this after the first few performances. Frankly, even if they score rave reviews and excellent word-of-mouth, they are starting in a very deep hole that will be extremely difficult to climb out of. A MHE-esque turnaround is difficult to pull off in any circumstance (and MHE was far better suited for it considering its sweet-natured romantic whimsy), but that production at least had the benefit of being much smaller than this one. 

Updated On: 10/7/25 at 10:47 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 10:54am

EDSOSLO858 said: "ACL2006 said: "This is not selling at all. Curious if anyone did in person rush and how many people were there?"

First preview is tomorrow, so there's no in-person rush today."

That's right. Hearing people won online rush threw me off. Still be curious to hear of anyone is doing in-person rush tomorrow.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 11:00am

They’ve supposedly done some work on this since Boston…but I still predict a short, Redwood-esque run rather than a turnaround hit like Maybe Happy Ending. At least we’re getting a couple Sherie Rene Scott performances! 

[marytylermoore]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 11:14am

They've really shot themselves in the foot by keeping the real Jackie Siegel so close to this production in all of their marketing (she did an entire photoshoot with Cheno in the Times! WHY!). The show is far more damning of Jackie than they'd have any potential ticket buyers believe, and, sadly, this decision is not helping them shake off the "MAGA The Musical" feeling that folks have about it. 

It's gonna take a miracle...

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 11:30am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They’ve supposedly done some work on this since Boston…but I still predict a short, Redwood-esque run rather than a turnaround hit like Maybe Happy Ending. At least we’re getting a couple Sherie Rene Scott performances!"

Hopefully it will make it to her performances.

Scott will perform the role of Jackie on Nov. 25, both performances on Dec. 3 and on Jan. 20, 2026.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 11:44am

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES will feature a 16-piece orchestra playing through John Clancy's orchestrations; on leave from City Center, the great Mary-Mitchell Campbell will conduct. This is the first full-scale Broadway musical she will be conducting since MEAN GIRLS opened. (She has been working as a music supervisor ever since.) 

• 3 Keyboards
• 2 Reeds
• Trumpet
• French Horn
• Drums / SPD
• Percussion
• 2 Guitars
• 2 Violins (incl. Concertmaster)
• Viola
• Cello
• Acoustic and Electric Bass

(For those who are unfamiliar, SPD stands for Sampling Percussion Devices - some Roland drummers use them to trigger custom sounds and loops for live performance and studio settings.)

Updated On: 10/7/25 at 11:44 AM

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 12:13pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They’ve supposedly done some work on this since Boston…but I still predict a short, Redwood-esque run rather than a turnaround hit like Maybe Happy Ending. At least we’re getting a couple Sherie Rene Scott performances!"

Redwood lasted 3 months… you really think this has a 3 month run in it?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 12:29pm

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They’ve supposedly done some work on this since Boston…but I still predict a short, Redwood-esque run rather than a turnaround hit like Maybe Happy Ending. At least we’re getting a couple Sherie Rene Scott performances!"

Redwood lasted 3 months… you really think this has a 3 month run in it?"

I think the producers will do whatever they can to keep this afloat through the holidays at least.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 1:14pm

Redwood lasted 3 months… you really think this has a 3 month run in it?"

With the holiday season coming up? Absolutely. January is a different story...

 

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 1:30pm

Sutton Ross said: "Redwood lasted 3 months… you really think this has a 3 month run in it?"

With the holiday season coming up? Absolutely. January is a different story...

"

 

Updated On: 10/7/25 at 01:30 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 1:36pm

They would have to have a huge reserve to last to Thanksgiving let alone Christmas. 

Suggesting this show won't last until next month is ridiculous and completely over dramatic. Jesus.

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 1:48pm

Sutton Ross said: "They would have to have a huge reserve to last to Thanksgiving let alone Christmas.

Suggesting this show won't last until next month is ridiculous and completely over dramatic. Jesus."

 

Updated On: 10/7/25 at 01:48 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 1:51pm

I do not but I know that Redwood (bless its heart) ran for 3 months (starting in January!), with barely any advance. So, if this doesn't pick up and is a total failure in every way possible, it will close in the beginning of January. Even the total failures of last Spring lasted 3/4 months.

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 1:57pm

Sutton Ross said: "Redwood lasted 3 months… you really think this has a 3 month run in it?"

With the holiday season coming up? Absolutely. January is a different story...

"

Two Words: Tammy Faye.

Previews 10/19/24

Opening Night 11/14/24

Closed 12/8/24

So much for staying open for the holiday season.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 2:00pm

I know some people in the cast were already concerned about the show not selling a lot of tickets, but then Kristin’s remarks on recent national events (among other controversies) had p!ssed away any goodwill they are hoping on to sell tickets

I’m on the waitlist for tomorrow’s lottery, but I cannot see this surviving past January short of a miracle. I don’t think in a time where people are struggling to find affordable housing and pay bills, that a show about a rich white lady trying to build a nine-figure mansion and then to have it fall through due to the recession wouldn’t resonate and seem relatively tone deaf.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 2:10pm

It's incredibly tone deaf and the fact that no one in the production realizes that at this point? Wild.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 2:38pm

quizking101 said: "I know some people in the cast were already concerned about the show not selling a lot of tickets, but then Kristin’s remarks on recent national events (among other controversies)had p!ssed away any goodwill they are hoping on to sell tickets

I’m on the waitlist for tomorrow’s lottery, but I cannot see this surviving past January short of a miracle. I don’t think in a time where people are struggling to find affordable housing and pay bills, that a show about a rich white lady trying to build a nine-figure mansion and then to have it fall through due to the recession wouldn’t resonate and seem relatively tone deaf."

It certainly doesn’t help that one of Trump’s pet projects of his second term has been turning the White House into his own sh!tty Versailles. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/7/25 at 3:27pm

Huss417 said: "Sutton Ross said: "Redwood lasted 3 months… you really think this has a 3 month run in it?"

With the holiday season coming up? Absolutely. January is a different story...

"

Two Words: Tammy Faye.

Previews 10/19/24

Opening Night 11/14/24

Closed 12/8/24

So much for staying open for the holiday season."

Two other words - “Swept Away”

Previews 10/29/24

Opening Night 11/19/24

Closed 12/29/24 (originally 12/15/24)