On this day in 1997: 'Sunset Boulevard' closes on Broadway

[David10086]

Posted: 3/22/20 at 11:26pm

23 years ago today, it was the end of the original run for ALW's highly anticipated musical 'Sunset Boulevard' on Broadway, after playing 977 performances over a two and a half year run. The show opened on November 17, 1994 with the highest advance in the history of Broadway ticket sales at that time (the musical sold over a million tickets on Broadway), yet ended up setting the record for the most money lost by a theatrical endeavour in the history of the United States (according to Frank Rich). Much of the blame was put on the $1M settlement from Patti Lupone's lawsuit against ALW. The NY Times said when it closed, the "Broadway production has earned back, at best, 80% of the initial $13 million".. Frank Rich said the loss was around $20 million.  

The London production would close two weeks later, on April 5, 1997. It opened July 12, 1994 and was beset with problems from the very beginning.  According to Playbill, a spokesperson for ALW said both productions closed because they couldn't find the 'right leading lady' to carry on in the role when both productions were to lose their stars (Elaine Paige in the USA, and Petula Clark in London). 

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/23/20 at 1:29pm

David10086 said: "ended up setting the record for the most money lost by a theatrical endeavour in the history of the United States (according to Frank Rich)."

That was before Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

 

[wiggum2]

Posted: 3/23/20 at 2:58pm

I saw it the 2nd to last night and it was my first Broadway show and it got me hooked! Alice Ripley wasn't in the night I saw it but it was still surreal to see her as Norma last fall in SB near Boston