Commentary - The Broadway "Bloodbath"

On Twitter yesterday, you'd think someone had died. Or lots of people. Or perhaps there had been a bloody massacre of unprecedented proportions.

But what really happened was that nine shows closed on Broadway, all on the same day: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Elf, The Pee-wee Herman Show, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Promises, Promises, Brief Encounter, Fela, West Side Story, and Donny & Marie: A Broadway Christmas.

Yeah, that list looks pretty scary when you look at the sheer volume, and contemplate the number of currently empty theaters on Broadway.

But, upon closer inspection, the situation isn't nearly as depressing as it might seem. Two of those shows were specific to the holiday season (Elf, Donnie & Marie). Two were intended as limited runs and ran out their full engagements (The Pee-wee Herman Show, Brief Encounter). Two were shows that are going to be taped for broadcast (The Pee-wee Herman Show, Fela). And, yes, two of these shows were limited engagements that closed earlier than originally planned (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown). But this particular production of West Side Story had the longest continuous run of any Broadway version of that show, including the original production. 

True, there are still more closings to come in the month of January: La Bête, A Free Man of Color, In the Heights, A Little Night Music, Next To Normal, and Time Stands Still. But what a lot of the boo-hoo-ers fail to point out is that some 23 new shows are scheduled for Broadway in 2011, 21 for the spring alone. What's more, currently only four Broadway theaters out of 40 have no confirmed bookings for the spring. Here's a list of what's coming, or hasn't yet officially opened:

NEW MUSICALS:
Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark
Sister Act
Wonderland
The Book of Mormon
Catch Me if You Can
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
The People in the Picture

MUSICAL REVIVALS:
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Godspell

NEW PLAYS:
Ghetto Klown
Jerusalem
Good People
War Horse
The Motherfucker With the Hat
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

PLAY REVIVALS:
The Importance of Being Earnest
That Championship Season
House of Blue Leaves
Master Class
Arcadia

FALL PLAYS:
Death of a Salesman
Old Masters

I'm certainly sympathetic to the actors and other folks who are losing their jobs. But that's how theater works. And that's how it's always worked. To paraphrase Curtains, it's a business, folks. Some of those people will be cast in some of those new shows. Some won't. To paraphrase A Chorus Line, nobody gets into theater because they're looking for a steady job.

From the audience perspective, you'd think that Broadway stalwarts would, to a certain extent, actually appreciate when shows that have moved past their sell-by date make room for fresher shows. Remember, turnover means we have more shows to see. Wouldn't Broadway be dull if *every* show ran for 20 years?

Comments

[Constantine]

My son was heartbroken at not getting to see "Andrew Jackson." As both a hater of Jackson and a lover of musicals and history he felt he was THE target audience. Unfortunately mom and dad couldn't make it happen.

[ccaggiano]

That's really too bad, Con. It was a very funny and surprisingly educational show. Wasn't 100% accurate historically, but then neither are the history books, right?

But it really seems like the kind of show that will catch on in the provinces. Coming soon to a theater near you, and all that.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

[Linda]

I completely agree with you, Chris. But then again, most of the shows that are closing shouldn't have opened in the first place, in my opinion. Here's hoping the spring is better than the fall.

[Robert]

It happens every January. There are always shows that I am sad to see go, usually ones that have had premature deaths. For example, I am sad about Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, because I think it should have had a broader appeal and lasted longer. I'm sad about the late, great Scottsboro Boys because it was "art".

C'est la vie.

Then there are always shows that have had healthy runs, and while sometimes I am sad to see them go (In the Hieghts, Next to Normal), other times I actually don't care one way or another (West Side Story) or am actually rather glad that a show is closing (Elf).

[Seth Christenfeld]

I find myself terribly amused that the link you've provided about Old Masters manages to misspell Brian Murray's first name every time it's used.

[Esther]

I don't know, I do feel kind of sad when a show I love closes prematurely. I remember how I felt when Brighton Beach Memoirs closed a week after opening, not even enough time to be Tony eligible. That seemed so unfair.

But there are other shows that I feel had a good run, like Fela! or were limited to begin with, like Brief Encounter.

And I understand that Broadway needs turnover. What I love is to be able to hear so many different types of music, so many different stories in 14 blocks. It would be pretty boring if it remained static for 20 years!

I'm looking forward to a lot of what's coming up in the spring. New shows to fall in love with!