Escape to Margaritaville Closing

[(Insert Clever Name)]

It was bound to happen... Opinions?

[EllieRose2]

Just exactly yours.  

[bwayrose7]

I'm sorry for the people who are out of work, but, really. Did anyone think this was going to be a good idea, at any point in the process? I feel bad for the actors and crew who needed the job but frankly thrilled that a theatre is freed up for something less... whatever you would call it.

[Dollypop]

Day it ain't so!

[dearalanaaaa]

A manufactured tourist trap, just like the rest of the season. Ironically, I do not know a single person who could tell me who Jimmy Buffett is.

Also who even asked for this? Who woke up one day and thought "The world really needs a Jimmy Buffett musical." Don't even get me started on the trainwreck grosses. I'm glad this trainwreck is being ripped off Broadway and not being used as an advertising venture for the Buffett Brand anymore.

[Solipsist234]

dearalanaaaa said: "A manufactured tourist trap, just like the rest of the season. Ironically, I do not know a single person who could tell me who Jimmy Buffett is.

Also who even asked for this? Who woke up one day and thought "The world really needs a Jimmy Buffett musical." Don't even get me started on the trainwreck grosses. I'm glad this trainwreck is being ripped off Broadway and not being used as an advertising venture for the Buffett Brand anymore."

$$$

Also, you must've really hated SpongeBob then, because that exists! We live in a world where Mean Girls and SpongeBob can be musicals, and the '8th story' of the Harry Potter universe can be a record-breaking play. The magic of commercial theater...

[Jonathan Cohen]

I'm just confused by the timing. Clearly their week to week numbers were horrible, but I thought their advanced sales for the Summer months were supposed to be better, and they were trying to bridge the gap until that uptick. If they're closing July 1, in the middle of Summer, advanced sales probably weren't that much better. 

[RippedMan]

If this doesn't get licensed for Royal Caribbean or something they'd be stupid. I saw it, and I actually had a good time. I can't say I'm reaching for that cast album, but it's a fun show and Ashely really directed the crap out of it. And seeing Paul Nolan shirtless was well worth the price of admission. 

[VintageSnarker]

bwayrose7 said: "I'm sorry for the people who are out of work, but, really. Did anyone think this was going to be a good idea, at any point in the process? I feel bad for the actors and crew who needed the job but frankly thrilled that a theatre is freed up for something less... whatever you would call it."

That said, is it really a great theater? Drowsy Chaperone is the last good show I remember seeing there and I almost don't believe it was the same venue. Maybe I was sitting in the back... It just looked so cheap for On Your Feet.

[Gizmo6]

Anyone know what's coming in after it? 

[gypsy101]

Solipsist234 said: "dearalanaaaa said: "A manufactured tourist trap, just like the rest of the season. Ironically, I do not know a single person who could tell me who Jimmy Buffett is.

Also who even asked for this? Who woke up one day and thought "The world really needs a Jimmy Buffett musical." Don't even get me started on the trainwreck grosses. I'm glad this trainwreck is being ripped off Broadway and not being used as an advertising venture for the Buffett Brand anymore."

$$$

Also, you must've really hated SpongeBob then, because that exists! We live in a world where Mean Girls and SpongeBob can be musicals, and the '8th story' of the Harry Potter universe can be a record-breakingplay. Themagic of commercial theater..."

they called the whole season a tourist trap and they’re mostly accurate with all those movie adaptions and jukebox musicals 

[yankeefan7]

I don't think anybody is surprised although I had thought it might make it past July 1. It is always sad when show closes because people lose jobs but hopefully they find something else real soon.

[MyLife]

If any cruise line is going to pick up the rights to this show it would be Norwegian, as they exclusively have Margaritaville restaurants on their newer ships. I hope they don't... but they probably will.

[Call_me_jorge]

Has a show ever closed and then performed a major telecast afterwards before?

[taylortrensch]

Call_me_jorge said: "Has a show ever closed and then performed a major telecast afterwards before?"

I know they aren't in the same situation as the Falsettos revival was a close ended run and Margaritaville was meant to be an open ended run, but the Falsettos cast performed at last year's Tonys even though they closed 5 months before the ceremony. I'm unsure of shows that were in the same position as Margaritaville though 

[Elegance101]

Call_me_jorge said: "Has a show ever closed and then performed a major telecast afterwards before?"

They’re closing after the Tonys.

Also, yes, many times.

[AEA AGMA SM]

The other two instances that come to mind right off the top of my head were 1998 (Alice Ripley & Emily Skinner performed "I Will Never Leave You" about six months after Side Show closed) and 2010 (Christiane Noll sang "Back to Before" from the Ragtime revival).

[Call_me_jorge]

Elegance101 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Has a show ever closed and then performed a major telecast afterwards before?"

They’re closing after the Tonys.

Also, yes, many times."

I’m referring to their performance for the Fourth of July. And I should’ve excluded the tonys in my original question as I’m aware that has happened on numerous occasions. 

[Elegance101]

Oh, I see! My bad, I just assumed.
I wonder if they’ll still do the Fourth of July performance.

[Impossible2]

Solipsist234 said: "dearalanaaaa said: "A manufactured tourist trap, just like the rest of the season. Ironically, I do not know a single person who could tell me who Jimmy Buffett is.

Also who even asked for this? Who woke up one day and thought "The world really needs a Jimmy Buffett musical." Don't even get me started on the trainwreck grosses. I'm glad this trainwreck is being ripped off Broadway and not being used as an advertising venture for the Buffett Brand anymore."

$$$

Also, you must've really hated SpongeBob then, because that exists! We live in a world where Mean Girls and SpongeBob can be musicals, and the '8th story' of the Harry Potter universe can be a record-breakingplay. Themagic of commercial theater..."

More people have heard of Spongebob, Mean Girls and Harry Potter than have heard of Jimmy Buffet.

He is a local act for Americans of a certain age and ahem disposition...

I for one am glad that the musical version will improve Mean Girls legacy as too many people haven't seen what is one of the cleverest comedy films ever made because of their own prejudices. The movie is a million times better, but hopefully the musical will give the film the profile it deserves.

Spongebob has always featured musical numbers so once again it is no surprise it has become a show and has been pulled off so well. It adds to and compliments the franchise perfectly and also stands on it's own if you never watch anything Spongebob again.

The Potter play is a totally new venture separate from the books and the films. It is brilliant and works as a part of the series or as a stand alone play.

Everyone can bitch and moan all they like, but all 3 of them have earned and deserve their place on Broadway. 

[OneSingularSensation2]

Jonathan Cohen said: "I'm just confused by the timing. Clearly their week to week numbers were horrible, but I thought their advanced sales for the Summer months were supposed to be better, and they weretrying to bridge the gap until that uptick.If they're closingJuly 1, in the middle of Summer,advanced sales probably weren't that much better."

Same here - I'm surprised they're not holding out through July. I'd have thought summer tourists without young kids = a sure bet. I'm not arguing against Frozen, Mean Girls, and Spongebob being on Broadway, but I don't know many middle-aged adults interested in seeing any of the three.

(Sure, Jimmy Buffett isn't super popular, but I do think this show's more approachable for visitors than say, the Band's Visit. Plus, those who are into musicals have likely seen many of the other open shows on their national tours - it's a light season! And the most popular shows' tickets are $$$...)

[JennH]

Not that this show is any loss, but I am kind of surprised they didn't try to push through the holiday week. 

[dearalanaaaa]

Solipsist234 said: "dearalanaaaa said: "A manufactured tourist trap, just like the rest of the season. Ironically, I do not know a single person who could tell me who Jimmy Buffett is.

Also who even asked for this? Who woke up one day and thought "The world really needs a Jimmy Buffett musical." Don't even get me started on the trainwreck grosses. I'm glad this trainwreck is being ripped off-Broadway and not being used as an advertising venture for the Buffett Brand anymore."

$$$

Also, you must've really hated SpongeBob then, because that exists! We live in a world where Mean Girls and SpongeBob can be musicals, and the '8th story' of the Harry Potter universe can be a record-breaking play. The magic of commercial theater..."

Ironically, I jumped for tickets to Spongebob (I'd practically been raised on it) and Harry Potter. Spongebob was bound to get the musical treatment, as another commenter mentioned that they always had musical numbers, while Harry Potter isn't even a musical. Mean Girls did not need a musical, but if enough people are enjoying it (Broadway and non-broadway fans) then the show can go on. It's still a bad season if you think of really good original musicals this year. I'm glad how good all of the revivals were, but the jukebox season was not preferable. 

[After Eight]

Broadway rose7 wrote: "I feel bad for the actors and crew who needed the job but frankly thrilled that a theatre is freed up for something less... whatever you would call it."

 

I too feel bad for the actors and crew, and frankly am anything but thrilled that a theatre is now freed up for something more .... whatever you would call it. I would call it ghastly.

At least as long as Margaritaville was there, we were spared the possibility of another music-barren dirgical or screed moving in to make both our theatre and our lives miserable. 

Should that grim prospect come to pass, we could be pining to have Margaritaville back there in very short order.

Let's hope Summer and Sponge Bob can continue to hold on to their theatres for a very long time.

 

[dramamama611]

Impossible2 said: "Everyone can bitch and moan all they like, but all 3 of them have earned and deserve their place on Broadway."

 

Anyone with money get put a show on Broadway.  Granted, a LOT of money, but still.   And just because it's "there" doesn't mean people can't voice their opinions.