"Although the official end date had previously been set for Oct. 19, to coincide with the end of Billy Porter's run as the Emcee, his recent illness forced producers to move the closing up to Sept. 21. Last week, it was announced that the $24 million Broadway revival of Cabaret, which transformed the August Wilson Theatre into an immersive nightclub at enormous cost, will close earlier than expected after months of disappointing grosses and apparently at a total loss."
"The production, which originated in London (where it continues to run), faced far steeper challenges in New York. Producing in London is considerably less expensive, and its audiences were more receptive to the divisive staging. On Broadway, the same concept required premium ticketing and constant star power just to cover weekly costs. Eddie Redmayne's grotesquely twisted Emcee drew both fascination and ridicule (his Tony Awards performance went viral), but kept the house sold out."
Cabaret’s $24 million Broadway revival converted the August Wilson Theatre into an immersive, in-the-round Berlin nightclub with a new mezzanine and cocktail tables, and added a 75-minute preshow of cabaret acts and drinks. The renovation and immersive elements created massive weekly overhead and required premium ticketing and continuing star casting to cover costs. London’s staging faced lower production expenses and more receptive audiences, allowing its run to continue. In New York, disappointing grosses and high expenses led producers to close earlier than planned, accelerated by Billy Porter’s illness, and prompted an investor lawsuit seeking repayment of $50,000.
Read at www.amny.com
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