Mambo Kings dead--as per Broadway.com

[ifagirlisntpretty]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:27pm

I am spreading the word... Ticket holders call telecharge...

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=514455

I am actually sort of sad. I mean--if Good Vibrations can make it... at least I would have been more interested to see this...
link

[Al Dente]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:34pm

I wish I could say I'm more shocked than I am. Again, this was not a movie that was begging for a musical adaptation. And they filled it with a bunch of actors who don't sing. I think they're smart in cutting their losses. Why prolong the agony like GV?

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:34pm

Thats sad... I just saw David Allen Grier on Conan and he was all exicted for the show... Poor guy and the rest of the cast. Maybe it'll pull a Charity?

[Al Dente]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:38pm

Can't imagine that Morales and/or Grier would be willing or are in the position to come out of pocket the way Applegate did. Highly unlikely.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:42pm

This is so sad. I really wanted to see Christiane Noll live. I can't believe Mambo Kings was cancelled, but Lennon and Jersey Boys are going to make it to broadway. It really doesn't make any sense...

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:43pm

It looks like a very lackluster season coming up when compared to season.

[CJR]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:50pm

This is a family board.... I shall refrain from posting the string of obscenities that just came flying out of my mouth.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:53pm

Heather - Would Roxane return to Chicago now?

[CJR]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:55pm

Your guess is as good as mine..... and I don't think right now would be the appropriate time to ask her.

[BROADWAYFAN3]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 12:59pm

i bought tixs at the BO is it still open for refunds

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:05pm

yeah, with music by JRB and Jerry Mitchell directing, I was actually looking forward to at least hearing about this show, but I guess not. They say "color purple" is going to be the next tenent of the house. That's sad. They put up the marquee and have to take it down already.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:06pm

Ahhh that's too bad. I adored the film and was looking forward to seeing Esai Morales in the role.

[CJR]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:09pm

Ticket sales were pretty bad, but I haven't really seen a lot of press for it. In fact, I haven't really seen anything at ALL for a show that was supposed to start previews in the next few weeks.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:12pm

I am a big fan of the book and tried to look towards this production with rose-colored glasses, but I would be lying if I said I was surprised. I'm just glad I didn't buy tickets.

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:13pm

There didnt seem much hype built up for the show!

Perhaps The Wiz revival will move in...its a big theatre!

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:13pm

Well, Im sorry for everyone involved that deserved a shot - but after all the hugely negative buzz this show had been getting, I honestly can't say Im THAT surprised. Color Purple at the BROADWAY would be wonderful! Can't wait for that!

[tkts]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:14pm

No surprise....now I can say I've seen a true failure..."Not Since Mambo Kings"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:17pm

I think it's always a shame when a show can't come together, but I actually think the decision to close unworkable shows out of town is an honorable one.

Truth be told, probably more shows should shutter early. In the 1940s-70s, producers would cut their losses and close shows almost immediately if they were universally panned.

Today's practice of driving flop shows into the mud (Brooklyn, Dracula, Good Vibrations) when its clear they won't ever fly just wastes a lot of money. Fascinating how ego-centric Broadway producers have become.

THE COLOR PURPLE will be an interesting experience. There is no way the show that played Atlanta would have flown in NYC. The producers at least took the smart road and went back to the drawing table. I hope they've come up with a solution. Its great source material.
Updated On: 6/27/05 at 01:17 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:19pm

By most accounts it stunk. Better off dead.
Updated On: 6/27/05 at 01:19 PM

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:29pm

Hmmm.....I hope Color Purple fills it, but only if it does well. I don't want a big theatre like that not selling tickets. Tarzan could move there, when is it coming again?

[Derek]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 1:42pm

ooo i actually really wanted to see that

[Plum]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 2:21pm

Michael Bennet- maybe producers don't want to give up as easily on shows because by the time they get those awful out-of-town reviews, they've already invested a ton of money just putting the show on stage.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 2:26pm

Plum -- I think that's part of it, but very few shows actually do "out of town" tryouts anymore. And that still wouldn't really explain why things like BROOKLYN or DRACULA hang around. I suppose you could argue that the producers so believe in these projects they think they can somehow find an audience despite terrible reviews, but it seems like a whole-lotta-denial going on to me. Nobody wants to be the person's whose musical closed after 3 performances.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 2:35pm

I wonder if any show that started out with abysmal attendance figures managed to find an audience after a few months and have a respectable run. I can't think of any examples, but my memory is short. Anyone?

[thisdude]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 5:11am

Mambo King's attendance was not bad. It recieved a lukewarm (harsh I might add) review. This made people hesitant to see it. The theatre was about 3/4 all the time at least. People would say, "I wanted to see it but I read the review and I don't know if I should now," or, " I wasn't going to see it, but my friend saw it and said I had to see it and I loved it!" It burns me when an uptight reviewer kills a good show! Grrr! I hope this doesn't stop new shows from trying out in San Francisco. Before Wicked and La Boehm got good reviews, hardly anyone was coming to see them either (in SF anyway)