‘Tammy Faye’ Musical to Close On Broadway in December

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As a seasoned Broadway enthusiast with over two decades of theater-going under my belt, I must admit that I am quite disheartened by the early closure of “Tammy Faye.” Having witnessed numerous productions come and go, both successful and not-so-successful, it’s always a bittersweet experience when a show fails to find its footing.

New musical Tammy Faye is closing Dec. 8 after a short-lived run on Broadway. 

The musical based on the life of a well-known televangelist, featuring songs by Elton John, started its run at the Palace Theatre on October 19, but only opened for public viewing last Thursday, November 14. Upon its debut, the show received generally unfavorable reviews and struggled to attract an audience.

The production of the show, budgeted at up to $25 million, earned less than $400,000 over the past three weeks, falling significantly short of the required earnings for a show of its scale. Furthermore, attendance has been disappointing, with the musical only filling 63% of its seats in the latest week.

The musical made its way to Broadway in the autumn of 2022, following a successful run at the West End. There, it earned four Olivier Award nominations, one of which was for Best Musical. This production was the premier event to inaugurate the refurbished Palace Theater on Broadway, marking its grand reopening.

Beyond just John, this musical boasts songwriting from Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, scriptwriting by James Graham, choreography by Lynne Page, and direction masterfully handled by Rupert Goold, who has previously won an Olivier Award.

Apart from Greene Light Stage and James L. Nederlander, John additionally serves as a co-producer for the musical.

As a devoted theater enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the stellar cast includes Katie Brayben, a two-time Olivier Award winner portraying Tammy Faye Bakker, Christian Borle, a two-time Tony Award winner stepping into the role of Jim Bakker, and Michael Cerveris, another two-time Tony Award winner bringing Jerry Falwell to life.

More to come.

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2024-11-19 23:55