What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
#1What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 7:57pm
Fiddler closing yesterday, Matilda and Something Rotten closing today, Falsettos and The Color Purple closing next week and then Jersey Boys and Holiday Inn closing on the 15th, it has me wondering what January was the worst for closures.
i remember reading about 2009 being bad, but I'm not really sure how many shows closed then.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#2What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 8:00pm
January 2009 had quite a bit:
13
The 39 Steps
August: Osage County
Avenue Q
Boeing Boeing
Grease
Gypsy
Hairspray
Spamalot
Spring Awakening
Young Frankenstein
ethan231h
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/5/11
#3What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 8:17pm
2015 was
pippin
once
cinderella
rock of ages
motown
side show
this is our youth
the real thing
Rainah
Broadway Star Joined: 11/24/16
#4What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 8:17pm
Pretty sure In Transit is closing this month too, their numbers are terrible
#5What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 8:23pm
It was really felt in 2009 because of the recession. It was disappointing seeing Gypsy close two months earlier than March when the leads contracts were to expire.
@z5
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/30/15
#6What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 9:07pm
The Humans, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and The Encounter are all also closing on either the 8th or 15th.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#7What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 9:35pm
2009 is the year that jumped into my head as well. Here's more that was missing from the above 2009 closure list.:
‘ALL MY SONS,’
‘DIVIDING THE ESTATE,
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS,’
‘LIZA’S AT THE PALACE,
‘SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW,’
(I didn't even remember that Slava's Snowshow played ON Broadway!)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
oknazevad
Swing Joined: 8/29/16
#8What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 9:44pm
It's just a cyclical point where the fall season has ended. Fall limited runs are ending. That's not a sign of bad box office business, as they're planned closures. The other closings are a sign of box office downturn for those shows, obviously, but the timing is based on trying to get some more holiday season sales and the need to vacate the theatres for the next load in for spring shows.
I would expect this to be a trend in future years, based on what we have seen the past couple of years: shows that have been running for a couple of years holding on for the new year then closing.
Willie4316
Leading Actor Joined: 9/12/16
#9What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 9:58pm
@z5 said: "The Humans, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and The Encounter are all also closing on either the 8th or 15th.
"
Falsettos, Holiday Inn, and The Color Purple can be added to the list, however Falsettos and Holiday Inn were advertised as a limited engagements
#10What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:03pm
I listed holiday inn, Falsettos and the color purple in the original post.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
Hairspray0901
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/08
#11What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:04pm
2009 for sure. Closing after closing due to the recession..I remember how shocking it was. Long running shows closing was crazy. It's not like today where most of the shows that close in January are new / a year or so old.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#12What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:07pm
The Illusionists closed today as well.
Oh, Hello and The Front Page close towards the end of the month.
Willie4316
Leading Actor Joined: 9/12/16
#13What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:09pm
My apologies, I was reading it on my phone and scrolled through it quick and didn't see them.
#14What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:13pm
Hairspray0901 said: "2009 for sure. Closing after closing due to the recession..I remember how shocking it was. Long running shows closing was crazy. It's not like today where most of the shows that close in January are new / a year or so old. "
Exactly. It was shocking with Spamalot, Avenue Q, Hairspray, and Spring Awakening all closing around the same time. Also, as I mentioned earlier, many of us were disappointed to see Gypsy close early by two months. It was a strange time for Broadway shows, and if you weren't following Broadway during that time period, it would be hard to imagine what it was like.
Also, Concierge is incorrect about August: Osage County. It closed on June 28, 2009.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#15What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:19pm
Condensed list of all shows closing this month (and scheduled to be open-ended, unless otherwise listed):
January 1, 2017
The Illusionists: Turn of the Century (limited run)
Matilda
Something Rotten!
January 8, 2017
The Color Purple
The Encounter (limited run)
Falsettos (limited run)
Les Liaisons Dangereuses (limited run)
January 15, 2017
Holiday Inn (limited run)
The Humans
Jersey Boys
January 22, 2017
Oh, Hello on Broadway (limited run)
January 29, 2017
The Front Page (limited run)
So, 12 total closings I believe, for this month.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#16What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:20pm
And my mistake on August: Osage County, ljay889! I pulled that list from this link, though I should've checked it more thoroughly beforehand!
@z5
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/30/15
#17What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:22pm
January 22, 2017
Oh, Hello on Broadway (limited run)
So, 11 total closings I believe, for this month. And The Front Page closes February 5.
WRONG! FRONT PAGE closes Jan 29.
#18What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:22pm
Yeah, January of 2009 wasn't the happiest time for theatre lovers. Gypsy closing early was a bit of a bummer for me since I idolize Patti Lupone and thought the entire production was just brilliant, but Hairspray closing hurt my heart a little bit. I did get to see it for the second time a week and a half before it closed, and it was just as fun and fabulous as the first time I saw it, which was only about a year or two prior. I'm still a tiny bit sad that Hairspray isn't around, but I'm sure it won't be long until we get a revival.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#19What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:25pm
Yikes again! Looks like you're right, @z5. When did they change their final performance date? Every press release when the production was announced said closing would be February 5, and I don't remember seeing news about date changes...
Oh well, point taken and post edited! 
#20What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 10:44pm
The early Gypsy closing also robbed us of the ANNOUNCED filming for PBS and DVD.
2009 was a nightmare.
#21What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 11:33pm
Scarywarhol said: "The early Gypsy closing also robbed us of the ANNOUNCED filming for PBS and DVD.
2009 was a nightmare.
"
This upsets me.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#22What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 11:50pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Scarywarhol said: "The early Gypsy closing also robbed us of the ANNOUNCED filming for PBS and DVD.
2009 was a nightmare.
"
This upsets me.
"
This greatly upsets me too. We have had at least three filmings of GYPSY in some form or another and every single one of them has been disappointing in some way or another.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#23What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/1/17 at 11:52pm
Yes, that's the worst part. It coulda been the good one!
I'm actually pretty okay with the Imelda taping, but this production was much better.
#24What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/2/17 at 12:01am
Scarywarhol said: "The early Gypsy closing also robbed us of the ANNOUNCED filming for PBS and DVD.
2009 was a nightmare.
"
This made me want to cry. What an absolute theatrical tragedy.
Phantom4ever
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#25What has been the worst January for Broadway closures?
Posted: 1/2/17 at 12:08am
Do you guys remember the SNL sketch entitled "Let's Save Broadway" that aired on January 10, 2009? It was about the large number of January closings that year and how the 2008-2009 season in general was suffering due to the recession.
If featured Taylor Swift as Annie and Neil Patrick Harris as Mark from Rent.
In the sketch, the Phantom led a meeting of Broadway characters trying to figure out how to save Broadway, but all of their ideas were useless. Pretty funny and still very accurate: Let's Save Broadway!
Videos