Thoroughly Modern Millie

[442namffug]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 2:41pm

I was just looking at some old Broadway Grosses on Playbill.com and Millie had attendance of 90% and upwards most of the weeks. Why did it close!?

[broadway betty]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 2:50pm

I can't really answer your question cuz I don't know the reason but one of the times I went, Sutton was out and the theater was so empty. The mezz had some people, and the left, right, and like a third to half of the center orchestra was empty. If I'd known Sutton was out I wouldn't have gone either. Maybe Sutton's shoes were too big to fill.

[442namffug]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 3:33pm

interesting..anyone else?

[sassypanz]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:05pm

They probably thought it ran long enough.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:09pm

I don't think it was Sutton leaving that did it in for the show. It was doing about 90% most weeks, but with discounted tickets. Considering how much it must have cost to keep that show open, it probably wasn't worth it to keep it open much longer. It ran 2 1/2 years and it still didn't make back its original investment.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:10pm

It was going to run until September, but they couldn't afford it. I also thought it was because Sutton was so amazing, but it was starting to do badly towards the end of her run.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:14pm

I am a big fan of Sutton Foster's, but she is still not a household name, so her leaving was probably not a big deal. People who had never seen her perform would probably not come to the show just to see her.

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:22pm

But didnt Susan Egan play it for awhile? I mean she is known for Beauty and The Beast and she is amazing... I dont think its the actress... the show ran its course... most shows do... eventually even the good ones have to go...

I 3> Millie too.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:26pm

Yes, Susan Egan took over for Sutton Foster on February 17th 2004, and performed in it until its final performance on June 20th.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:29pm

And as fabulous as Susan Egan is, I didn't feel that she was able to quite support the demands of that role. Sutton brought something special to the show.

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:35pm

Innocence... a wide eyed sense of not knowing?

Maybe it is because she is younger than Susan and has that innocene about her... I never saw the show but from the CD you get it... she's very innocent.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:40pm

I thought Susan did a great job! Sutton's singing was definitely better. I was expecting Susan to be terrible (I only saw her as Sally Bowles)but, I think Susan brought a softness to the role. I think they were both excellent Millies!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:41pm

I just looked up the box office stats for the last six months of MILLIE's broadway run -- attendance NEVER cracked 90% for any week during the last 25 weeks of its run and only topped 80% twice. Most weeks attendance was in the 60s and four separate times it was in the 50s.

THAT's why it closed (and only returned 80% of its investment)..

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:45pm

Perhaps it was just that I saw both actresses and Sutton's performance was so vivid in my memory. Susan DID to a fine job and the friend I saw it with the 2nd time didn't have Sutton to compare with and HE thought she was fine. I just felt, by comparison, SLIGHTLY disappointed with Susan.

[musicallover2008]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:52pm

It's almost like there is a TMM curse. Broadway show closes not long after Sutton leaves. The equity tour closes not long after Darcy leaves.

Just somthing that I thought of the other day.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 5:53pm

two words:

CIRCUS PONIES!!!

[442namffug]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 6:18pm

MargoChanning..thanks for bringing up those numbers...I appologize, I must have misread. I do wish that I had seen the show because I have started to listen to the cast recording and the music is really great. Too bad it's gone