Thoroughly Modern Millie Closing — Page 3

I'm sad to see it go. It's a very uplifting and happy show. I'm sadder, though for my sister...she's been dying to see it since it began but now she won't be able to...very sad. I hope those who lose their jobs cuz of the show will be able to get back in there soon. Summer can be very brutal.

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I'm so sad to hear this news! I loved "Millie" - it was one of my favorite shows before Kevin even joined the cast. What a wonderful cast, ensemble, and group of people involved with the show! I'm heartbroken.

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Namo, I couldn't agree more. I was actually going to type the exact same thing.

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From Friday's On Stage and Off column in the Times:

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," the 2002 Tony Award-winning musical based on the 1967 film, will be performed for the last time on June 20. The show will have played more than two years, spawned a road tour and a London production and recouped 80 percent of its $9.5 million capitalization. Ticket sales for this Broadway musical have been declining steadily, and the producers were not optimistic about its prospects.

"I don't know that the summer is going to be a bonanza, especially with the Republican National Convention," said Hal Luftig, one of the producers. "With all the security in New York, I don't think it will help business."

Following up on Namo's comment, it's quite ironic that URINETOWN which "everyone" predicted would be a flop on Broadway (too "edgy," too "downtown," it belongs off-Broadway, it won't appeal to the tourists, and as Little Sally said, it has a "terrible" title) ended up recouping its entire investment (at the much smaller Henry Miller) and finished its run with a respectable profit, even though it didn't have the benefit of the Best Musical Tony, while MILLIE -- the commercial "feel good" "tourist" show -- will end up losing millions (the amount left unrecouped + advertising and marketing expenses).
Times Story on Millie Closing

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Ah, another LA person - I'm going home in 9 days - and I don't have time to check out Urinetown at the Wilshire Theater. But I did call every one of my friends and tell them to see it! Or I will force them to listen to somethig classic broadway (which they hate!) as punishment for not seeing this great comedy!

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I enjoyed "Urinetown" very much, also. Saw the it on B-way with Hunter Foster, Jeff McCarthy, John Cullum... and also saw the tour last fall. Very original and clever. Personally, I was rooting for Urinetown to take the Tony for Best Musical, but was not disappointed with Millie winning. Both shows were enjoyable and had their own merits. I'm very glad that Broadway fans supported them both and that both shows are having successful tours!

This time next year -- or a year and 1/2 from now -- dinner, stock, school, and community theatre productions will abound.

What will the Republicans do?

I heard a while ago that the Nederlanders wanted La Cage to go into the Marquis, but the producers of La Cage wanted the Palace. Nederlander might have something to go in there.

I know this won't happen, but it'd be neat if Sutton came back to close the show.

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to play Millie!!!

Therefore the show must close. Cause it is crap.

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But of course it didn't make more money because it ended up losing money. And remember, people excused the Tony voters because they have to vote on the show that will be the money-maker on the road. If the Boston experience is any indication, doesn't look like that worked out either.

Remember, people on this site are often reminding each other that it's called "show business," because it is a business. Apparently, a show like Millie that exists to sell audiences the idea and notions of "old fashionedness" turned out not to be a money maker while Urinetown, the show people thought would close quickly did in fact not. So, so much for the predictors of business. Just looking at the bottom line, Urinetown was the success and Millie was not. And that's the bottom line.

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