The Prom Will Close 8/11

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 7:51pm

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/194313/the-prom-will-end-its-run-on-broadway/

Since my other thread was deleted for some reason..

But it’s a real shame. I adored this musical. 

Updated On: 6/19/19 at 07:51 PM

[Here I Am]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 7:57pm

My heart is so broken over this. The world needs this musical now more than ever. This is what happens when the underdog doesn’t win the Tony. The big musical that doesn’t need ticket sales always wins.

[evic]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 7:57pm

I guesstimate that  it will have lost about 15 million by closing. A valiant try for a well intentioned mediocre show that imo received better reviews than it deserved. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:00pm

Glad you got that little dig in there, evic? 

[tourboi]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:04pm

Here I Am said: "My heart is so broken over this. The world needs this musical now more than ever. This is what happens when the underdog doesn’t win the Tony. The big musical that doesn’t need ticket sales always wins. "

Wicked, for one, would probably beg to differ with that statement.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:05pm

Here I Am said: "This is what happens when the underdog doesn’t win the Tony. The big musical that doesn’t need ticket sales always wins."

The Tonys don't award underdogs, they award the best musical of the year. In this year's case, every show except Ain't Too Proud is an underdog. All of them could have used the award, even Hadestown. Even if The Prom had won, I don't think the numbers would have jumped exponentially, it's already been running 8 months and a lot of would-be ticketbuyers were comped.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:05pm

So sad to read this. Honestly the most uniquely funny thing I’ve seen in a long time. So much heart. Happy it will live on with the Netflix movie and a *planned* national tour.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:08pm

Here I Am said: "My heart is so broken over this. The world needs this musical now more than ever. This is what happens when the underdog doesn’t win the Tony. The big musical that doesn’t need ticket sales always wins. "

That makes absolutely no sense.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:09pm

The show wasn’t my favorite of the season, but it had some fabulous performances in it (Brooks Ashmamskas! Chris Seibert! Caitlin Kinnunen! Beth Leavel!) and it brought a lot of people joy. The older I’ve gotten, the more I realize the importance of that. I’m sorry it didn’t make back it’s investment and will leave many out of work, but I think this could become an important piece of theater for schools and community theaters. 

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:10pm

tourboi said: "Here I Am said: "My heart is so broken over this. The world needs this musical now more than ever. This is what happens when the underdog doesn’t win the Tony. The big musical that doesn’t need ticket sales always wins. "

Wicked, for one,would probably beg to differ with that statement."

But Wicked wasn't the underdog, in the months leading up to the Tony's it was consistently 85%-100% of it's gross potential. Avenue Q on the other hand was grossing more in the 75%-85% range. Arguable Caroline, or Change was the biggest underdog, although I am struggling to find the gross history, and it did indeed close at the end of the summer after only a few months on Broadway. 

 

Sad to see the Prom go, while it wasn't the best show I saw this season, it was certainly a REALLY fun time!

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:10pm

As someone who could never get into the score for this show, I am still heartbroken for the cast, crew, and fans of this show.  There are a lot of people I know who were deeply affected by this show, and when my family saw Hadestown, we could see a humongous crowd gathering across the street for the stage door.  I'm glad this show could represent the LGBTQ+ community in a respectful fashion - here's to more representation on Broadway.

(One of my first interactions with The Prom was when I got an ad for it in the mail - alongside an ad for Gettin' the Band Back Together.  Well, at least this show did a little bit better than that one. )

[Clyde15]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:16pm

I’m so sad to see this show go and was so luckily to have been able to see it. It brought me so much joy and was definitely one of my favorites of the season! I look forward to seeing this show being done all across the country

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:21pm

It employed a lot of people for a long time. So !

But Im personally not a fan. Cheap design. Over choreographed. Forgettable score. But the main 4 were terrific and wish they had spent more time on them instead of pandering to the Dear Evan Hansen crowd. When she sings that song on her bed, and the cast comes out and stands on boxes, the show jumped the shark. That was just awful.

[BobPopa]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:28pm

It's a show that I think (partially hope) will grow as time goes. The Netflix film should help and the tour (will be Non-AEA?) will help keep it out there.

It should also play well in many of the regional theatres which will keep it alive.

I have not seen it in NY but saw it in previews at the Alliance and fell in love with it then

The score is underrated and the show is smart, moving, and just a good old fashioned new musical.

 

[evic]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:28pm

THere are many shows that we loved that deserved longer runs. This just wasn't one of mine. Sorry for your loss. Especially if you were an investor. I still shake my head wondering how so many long running shows ran as long as they did. Broadway is a very risky business. Maybe it will have a long life post Broadway. The show had a myriad of fans. 

[tourboi]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:37pm

bwayboy22 said: "tourboi said: "Here I Am said: "My heart is so broken over this. The world needs this musical now more than ever. This is what happens when the underdog doesn’t win the Tony. The big musical that doesn’t need ticket sales always wins. "

Wicked, for one,would probably beg to differ with that statement."

But Wicked wasn't the underdog, in the months leading up to the Tony's it was consistently 85%-100% of it's gross potential. Avenue Q on the other hand was grossing more in the 75%-85% range. Arguable Caroline, or Change was the biggest underdog, although I am struggling to find the gross history, and it did indeed close at the end of the summer after only a few months on Broadway.



Sad to see the Prom go, while it wasn't the best show I saw this season, it was certainly a REALLY fun time!"

You miss my point. The OP said that the tony always went to the big shows that don’t need it.... in that season Wicked was that show and it didn’t win. 

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:39pm

This show really surpassed my expectations, sad to see it go.

One casting note: Michael Potts is leaving Friday to film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom for Netflix. Michael Genet (most recently Chuck Cooper's understudy in Choir Boy) will play Mr. Hawkins for the remainder of the run. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:45pm

I hate that the show is closing. And I hate these random closing dates. At least stick around until the Labor Day weekend as used to be the tradition. Unless maybe another theatre already has a plan to go in early September?

[BwayLB]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:48pm

Did not see this coming but I am hoping to see the national tour

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:53pm

RippedMan said: "It employed a lot of people for a long time. So !

But Im personally not a fan. Cheap design. Over choreographed. Forgettable score. But the main 4 were terrific and wish they had spent more time on them instead of pandering to the Dear Evan Hansen crowd. When she sings that song on her bed, and the cast comes out and stands on boxes, the show jumped the shark. That was just awful. "

It’s funny, I’ve seen you rag on this show so much on the threads, and while I’m not surprised to see yet another post about why you didn’t like it, I disagree with just about all of your reasons why you didn’t like it. I think this is the funniest score of the season (funniest in several?) with hilarious parody songs and heartfelt ballads of yearning that resonate with so many people. I find it way less pandering than the other song you mention.

Anyway, I love this show. Brilliant performances. An original musical comedy with heart. I think Avenue Q was the last to have that balance of parody and earnestness. I will be very sad to see this go. While I’m glad it will have a life after this production is gone, this deserved a lengthier run. What a risk it was to put this show up on Broadway.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 8:53pm

Very sad to see this. I’ve been listening to the score a lot over the past few weeks - very underrated. Happy that it will have a new life on Netflix.

[Madison7]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 9:05pm

 I am so heartbroken over this, though looking grosses I knew it would happen.

[WaffleOnWheels]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 9:07pm

Just saw this last Saturday's matinee. Caitlin Kinnunen was out, but her understudy was fantastic, and the Broadway stars were knocking it out of the park. (Leavel still has that voice!)  It wasn't nearly a full house, but everyone (most everyone) who was there was loving it and into it 100%. I was personally near hysterics by the end. I don't know what it was but it felt like the fastest 2 and a half hours in the theater I've ever had. I beg anyone on the fence to go see this before it closes!

[Pose2]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 9:16pm

For those who are on the fence, check it out this summer guys, it's a really good show!

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 6/19/19 at 9:22pm

just saw the show last week
and sad to hear its closing

great book with some nice satire on bway and a lot of delightful
fun score with several gems
wonderful and very lovable cast
all that said its a good and probably not great show with a story line thats not as likely to register mass appeal.

the bands visit won 10 tonys and closed after 18 because there is not sustained mass appeal for beautiful niche productions(although i read it did recoup)

i think a lot of people give more credit to tonys driving demand for seats than they deserve.

grateful to see it looking forward to its extended life on netflix and hope it tours (at least on the coasts)

congrats to all the team for a fine and fun production