'Little Mermaid' Closing August 30, Tour Planned

Disney's Broadway musical The Little Mermaid is closing Aug. 30. A national tour is planned to launch Fall 2010.

Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions, said in a statement today:

"Director Francesca Zambello, our creators, designers and cast conjured a world unlike any Broadway has seen before, and audiences have been captivated by it at every explosive performance. We are tremendously proud of the show and are confident we'll have an excellent summer but it would be fiscally irresponsible to our shareholders to risk operating losses with such a big show in the historically challenging fall months. We are closing the Broadway production to concentrate on the long future life of this title — beginning with next year's national tour and upcoming international productions."

The Little Mermaid will have played 50 previews and 685 performances when it closes.

Rumors suggest that the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, currently home to The Little Mermaid, could host the new Broadway musical The Addams Family beginning early 2010, but nothing has been confirmed.

-- Daniel Lehman