Billy Elliot closes early in Chicago

Posted: 10/15/10 at 11:05pm

Producers are giving up and leaving 6 weeks early rather than play to 2/3 empty houses. And when the January Closing date was announced months ago, people thought the producers crazy and insisted Billy would run for a year maybe 2.

"Audience members at the Oriental Theatre in the Loop have reported an almost-empty balcony at some shows, and weekday attendance has been as low as 900 or so people. December sales are typically strong, so the decision to close now indicates that things are not expected to pick up."
Bye Bye Billy

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/15/10 at 11:18pm

It has to be the economy. Regardless of what the media says, people are not doing well financially and probably buying less tickets. Plus, BE has to be an expensive show to run. They can't afford half empty houses.

Posted: 10/15/10 at 11:41pm

I'm not sure how Wicked is selling but Lion King seems to be doing gangbusters. I just can't believe that beautiful Oriental Theater is going to sit empty over the biggest theater going time of the year. I cannot imagine how much they are losing if they are willing to write off Christmas & New Years.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 12:04am

I know thats really strange, the holidays are just around the corner. You would think they could make it until after New Years. WICKED, Lion King and Jersey Boys seem to be recession proof.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 12:06am

Why would they close when they could sell more tickets once Christmas time comes? They could probably sell a lot of last minute tickets to tourists

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 2:22am

Yeah, but they would have to wait for the Christmas season to really kick off, and things aren't going well for us in Chicago right now. The tourist base here is good, but not New York good this time of year. People kept going back to Wicked and Jersey boys, until the recession hit, and that is what helped lead to the decision to close those two shows, along with the lack of big houses for other shows. Right now everyone is more interested in saving cash for the holidays and less interested in seeing Billy Elliot for a second or third time just to keep it going through the holiday season.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 2:37am

You guys should read some of the RIDICULOUS comments on the article in the original post. From those comments, I'm ashamed to call myself a Chicagoan.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 2:58am

A lot of ignorant people commenting there. It's really sad.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 11:56am

I for one as a chicagoan didnt even see the show because I was afraid it wouldnt be nearly as good as it was in London. Now I just might have to get a ticket. It is a wonderful show though and im sad to see it close early.

[Brick]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 12:25pm

Road shows all around the country simply are not selling well right now. No one is selling 90% except New York.
Updated On: 10/16/10 at 12:25 PM

Posted: 10/16/10 at 12:44pm

Yes, the comments are pretty amazing. I like the idea that no one is going to see a MUSICAL in one of the most Democratic cities in the US because they are offended by it's liberal message.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 1:38pm

I see a lot of theatre in Chicago, sometimes multiple times. I saw Xanadu five times, I got drug back to Wicked more times than I care to admit. . .

Billy Elliot was different. I saw it once, and though I enjoyed it, I never felt the need to go back to the Oriental to see it again.

I was surprised by how many people said it was the "best music EVAARRRRR OMGWTFBBQ!!!111one" I'm sorry, but it was just okay to me.

-Jacob.

[canmark]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 4:33pm

I wonder if it's also the fact that Broadway shows like Billy Elliot are playing in much bigger theatres--in smaller theatre markets. How can anyone expect them to have a Broadway-length run?

I believe Billy is playing in the 1400+ seat Imperial on Broadway, but in the 2200+ seat Oriental in Chicago. The Chicago production is moving to Toronto in late January and will play the 2200+ seat Canon. It then goes to San Francisco in September 2011.

There's also a second national tour (just read that Faith Prince is playing Mrs. Wilkinson) which means that people in St. Louis, say, or Minneapolis, don't have to go to Chicago to see the show because it's coming to their own city.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 6:53pm

According to the article, they have grossed $27 million. That means they made about 1 million a week (on par, if not more than the Broadway production). So I guess playing in Chicago wasn't a total bust.

[Patash]

Posted: 10/16/10 at 10:53pm

My favorite comment from that article:

"Our Billy couldn't get passed his own accent to do even a passable cockney."

Posted: 10/16/10 at 11:28pm

Odd that a linguist doesn't understand the difference between Past and Passed.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 10/19/10 at 7:03pm

I am flying over to Chicago from London in November and will see Billy Elliot, if the theatre is not very full, there must be great discounts to be had, any tips?

[Sally]

Posted: 10/19/10 at 7:50pm

I'm from the Chicago area, and from the comments after the original story, I have to think WE (I use the term generally) are too narrowly conservative and provincial for a show like Billy. Wicked didn't seem to ruffle any feathers.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/20/10 at 5:59am

I am not a big Billy Elliot fan, but a 10 month run is nothing to sneeze at. There are lots of us HERE that don't think it's a great show...why should Chicago be any different? (of course, then you think the same would be true of Wicked.)

Of course, reading over those comments...some of their REASONS are ridiculous...but again, not ones we haven't heard here as well. There are posters here that have issue with language, non traditional casting and with the score. The only issues I don't remember people having an issue with HERE, were political agenda or the sexuality.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/20/10 at 5:59am

I am not a big Billy Elliot fan, but a 10 month run is nothing to sneeze at. There are lots of us HERE that don't think it's a great show...why should Chicago be any different? (of course, then you think the same would be true of Wicked.)

Of course, reading over those comments...some of their REASONS are ridiculous...but again, not ones we haven't heard here as well. There are posters here that have issue with language, non traditional casting and with the score. The only issues I don't remember people having an issue with HERE, were political agenda or the sexuality.