'Forbidden Broadway' Flops in Chicago
The Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones reports on his "Theater Loop" blog that Chicago's Forbidden Broadway: Dances with the Stars is closing this Sunday after only about three weeks of performances. The show was scheduled to run at the Royal George Theatre through at least Jan. 2009.
The show has received good reviews, and previous versions of the well-known spoof revue have had longer runs, but producers say Forbidden Broadway still "couldn’t sell a ticket to save its life."
Jones suggests that the same economic free-fall that has led to other early closings -- whether in Chicago, on Broadway, or elsewhere -- played a part in the decision, but also blames the show's small marketing budget, impatient producers, delay in the publication of some positive reviews, and (not least of all) the poor condition of the Royal George Theatre.
Also important to note is that other productions have managed to be very financially successful in Chicago, at the same time Forbidden Broadway is folding:
“Caroline, or Change” was just the biggest hit in Court Theatre’s history. “Million Dollar Quartet,” which moves to the Apollo Theater, is doing deservedly big business. “Picnic” keeps extending at Writers’ Theatre. “Edward II” is doing solid business at Chicago Shakespeare and “Dirty Dancing” is pulling down $1 million a week at the Cadillac Palace.
In fact, Chicago now has three shows—“Dirty Dancing,” “Wicked” and “Jersey Boys”—routinely doing million-dollar weeks.
Whatever the cause, Forbidden Broadway is finished in Chicago. Which is a shame, considering last month's news that the latest Off-Broadway version, Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab, will close in January and may not return.
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