The reinvented version of Side Show, the Bill Russell, Bill Comden/Henry Krieger musical won critical and audience approval when it was seen here at the Kennedy Center last summer. New York critics agreed when it opened on Broadway November 17, after 21 previews. Yet, on Friday, the show’s producers announced the production will close January 4, 2015, after only 77 performances.
What happened?
Ticket sales had been slow, never reaching the $500,000 which could have kept it running longer. Last week, the show played at 41% of total seats available in the large 10,000 seat St. James Theatre. But producers, led by Darren Bagert, had more money to invest to keep it running until Tony season, according to the New York Times.
The Times reports that, with the musical Something Rotten! waiting in the wings, which might give the St. James its long awaited hit, Jujamycin Theatres (owners of the St. James Theatre) invoked the dreaded stop clause, which in this case the owners could invoke if the show failed to reach $500,000 in sales for 2 consecutive weeks.
Richard Seff reviews Side Show on Broadway
Jayne Blanchard reviews Side Show at The Kennedy Center
Variety reports the possibility of a West End opening, which could help offset the $8 million dollar capitalization which investors will lose.
Side Show is on stage at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street (between Broadway and 8th Ave), NYC.
Details and tickets
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