The Broadway Musical, They're Dropping Like Flies

Food prices are up, milk, flour, staple goods. Gas prices are exorbitant. Everything is more expensive than even a year ago. Oh sure, prices go up on a regular basis, but not at this rate. Unfortunately, the arts are affected too and so Broadway had a tough season. Yes, the biggest shows are still going strong, Wicked, Lion King, Mamma Mia, even Little Mermaid. But ticket sales are down for many shows and desperate measures are being taken to try to break even, but many just can't make it. Although entertaining, they need to be blockbusters, juggernauts, to survive these days. The first to close was Cry Baby which shut its doors on June 22nd. A Catered Affair is closing July 27th and A Chorus Line is closing August 18th. All these shows had relatively short runs. They were good. I saw them all. But they just were not good enough. It was curtains for Curtains which closed its doors on June 29th after playing 511 performances and 26 previews. And I had previously reported on The Matinee that Rent would be closing after a respectable 11 year run. It just ran it's course. Also closing this week is November the critically acclaimed comedy starring Nathan Lane. Lane had previously announced that he would leave the show on July 13th, but the production itself had not confirmed that it would close upon his departure.

Other shows are taking desperate measures to try and keep afloat. Case in point, Grease stars Max Crumm and Laura Osnes who won the roles of Danny and Sandy on the television reality show, "Grease, You're the One That I Want", are leaving the show and being replaced by two of the runners up on the show, Ashley Spencer (who I saw playing Amber in Hairspray) and Derrick Keeling who came in 3rd on the show. Both Ashley and Derrick look more the part and I think they'll do a fine job. I must admit I did vote for Crumm and Osnes, however, they got very mediocre reviews. I thought the show was very good and they were both decent, but I admit I was starstruck after seeing and following them on the television show. Grease also recently added Taylor Hicks, season 5 "American Idol" winner, to play Teen Angel. Looks like they're pulling out all the stops to stay on the Great White Way.

But for every show that is leaving Broadway, two or three are waiting in the wings to take a stab at being the next Broadway juggernaut. Stay tuned to The Matinee to hear what is in the offing. It's all very exciting albeit precarious.