Swing Joined: 11/14/13
Confirmed by multiple cast members on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/jwoodHi5/status/552319748986650625
Incredibly depressing a totally original show cannot succeed on Broadway these days. Sad.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
I never got to see the show, but I did buy the OBCR and really enjoyed it. Now, it appears at the Neil Simon Theater will be open for a show this spring.
Another quality show bites the dust. Will the best musical Tony winner even be open @ Tony time. For that matter, will any of them be.
It's unfortunate on many levels. People may not been digging the show, but no one can deny that the cast, crew, and creators have been putting every ounce of themselves into this. I hope we get a chance to see Rachel Tucker and Jimmy Niall in another show in the US.
Updated On: 1/5/15 at 11:53 PM
I guess Saturday will be my last time seeing this, then... too bad Sting extended, since I was specifically going on what was originally his last show.
I do feel very bad for the cast and crew. The performances were really great. I enjoyed the show (saw it twice) and I'm sorry to see it go. I'll add this to the list of shows I liked but failed to find an audience: Chaplin and Bullets Over Broadway.
Updated On: 1/6/15 at 12:05 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
So unbelievably sad. I think i may know what Side Show fans were feeling.
This closing makes me so sad- now we'll have to endure another round of people complaining that no one appreciates fully original musicals and it's the death of Broadway and on and on.
There's no refractory period for that discussion? We just had it for Side Show so recently...
Wizard, you don't HAVE to endure anything.
"There's no refractory period for that discussion? We just had it for Side Show so recently..."
No, there totally is sweets.
Didn't love the show, but I think it had some redeeming qualities. Hopefully it finds some life on the road.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"Incredibly depressing a totally original show cannot succeed on Broadway these days."
A good one probably could.
A great one, more than probably.
Official
Breaking News: Sting's THE LAST SHIP Sets January Closing on Broadway
Glad I'm going next week. It's hard not to make sweeping pronouncements about the death of The Serious Musical. But these assertions have been with us for decades whenever the balance seems thrown toward mainstream or family fare. These closings are awful for everyone involved, but not unique. Go back, read THE SEASON, revisit any given year and you'll find a rash of quick failures. Yes, it's more expensive, and show aren't given the sort of mid-range runs they once achieved, those 9 month, one season runs that used to seem more prominent are less frequent. But it was always tough. This show, once licensed, may have a very long life in regionals and colleges.
I confess I found it banal, turgid, humorless, trite, and with an utterly bland, if somewhat pretty, completely untheatrical score.
The director and composer are both wealthy and secure and won't suffer; I wish the best for the actors on finding their next gigs.
Incredibly depressing a totally original show cannot succeed on Broadway these days. Sad.
Not really. Totally original shows can succeed on Broadway these days and have done so. This one just wasn't very good.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Liza's Headband & Matt, stop trolling. That is your opinion that it isn't very good. No need to state it as fact just to stir people up. That's trolling. Obviously lots of people feel otherwise.
The last hit original musical we've had was Book of Mormon.
Just bought tickets for the last sailing of the Last Ship on the 24th.
I've seen Sting in both of the appearances he made at 54 Below recently in his efforts to promote the show.
Whether you like it or not, I think everyone should applaud him for being a good egg.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Agreed. Sting has been an amazing supporter of the show and of Broadway. He's a real team player and I hope he has it in him to write another musical in the future (with a better book writer than Logan) because the score to TLS is truly beautiful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"the score to TLS is truly beautiful."
"No need to state it as fact just to stir people up. That's trolling. Obviously lots of people feel otherwise."
^^ I usually disagree with After Eight, but that was pretty good.
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