Image Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesForget the fuss about Julie Taymor’s megabudget musical Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark. The other big theater news is the return of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong to Broadway’s American Idiot for 50 shows, starting Jan. 1. This is very good news for producers of the rock musical, which has struggled at the box office for much of the seven months since its opening. Last week, the show filled just over half its seats and grossed a mere $600,000. The hope is that Armstrong’s presence will spike sales to the levels Idiot reached when he leapt into the role of seductive, drug-pushing rebel St. Jimmy for a surprise one-week gig from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 (that week, the show played to 93 percent capacity and grossed $1.1 million).
The timing is particularly smart since Armstrong will be arriving during what is traditionally a slow time for Broadway, the postholiday lull when New York is light on the tourism that typically drives ticket sales. In fact, it’s the fear of the January doldrums that has spurred the recent outbreak of closing notices on the Great White Way. Today, the well-reviewed rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson joined the trend; it will close Jan. 2.
A lot of Broadway houses will be emptying in the next couple of months. The Kander-Ebb musical The Scottsboro Boys announced its last performance will be Dec. 12, and the Brendan Fraser-topped comedy Elling closed on Sunday after just nine shows. The curtain will also be falling early on Fela! (Jan. 2), Promises, Promises (Jan. 2), Brief Encounter (Jan. 2), West Side Story (Jan. 2), Colin Quinn Long Story Short (Jan. 8), In the Heights (Jan. 9), La Bête (Jan. 9), and Next to Normal (Jan. 16). And that’s not even counting shows like the holiday hit Elf that were mounted this fall for a deliberately limited run.
Are there are any shows you’re hoping to see before they close? (My suggestion: Hurry up and see the sensational Scottsboro Boys!) And will you consider a trip to New York to see Billie Joe belting out “Know Your Enemy” at the St. James Theatre?
More Stage coverage from EW.com:
Sam Mendes and Kevin Spacey announce dates for Richard III
Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark sells $1 million in tickets
Michael Urie joining, Zachary Quinto leaving revival of Angels in America
Heading to NYC on January 6, so missing both Scottsboro and BBAJ, which were on my short list. Will now probably revisit old friends like “Next To Normal” and “Night Music” along with off-Broadway’s “The Divine Sister” and pray that Pee Wee Herman extends for a week.
I’m really disappointed about Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. I saw the show during its opening weekend, and I thought it was hilarious, entertaining, and definitely unlike anything I’d seen on Broadway before. It’s a shame it wasn’t given more of a chance to succeed. I’ve also already seen American Idiot and thought it was amazing, but I’d definitely consider seeing it again with Billie Joe as St. Jimmy.
Why is Bloody Bloody closing? I saw it on Saturday and the theatre looked packed.
On weekends maybe, but during the week probably not so much.
JMB, Bloody Bloody played at 65 percent capacity last week, and has been dropping steadily for the last month. (Many of those seats were filled by people buying half-price tickets at TKTS.) In fact, the show grossed $442,000 last week (less than half its potential gross), and that too was trending downward.
Yeah that makes sense. And last weekend was a holiday as well. It’s too bad, because it is a really unique and entertaining show. Too out there for the average theatre-goer, maybe?
I saw it Friday, November 12th and the theater was packed. Went back with my three teenage boys on Tuesday, the 23rd and sat in the front row of the Mezzanine with discount tickets. Although the orchestra was fairly full, the mezzanine seats were less than a thrid occupied. A shame considering my friends and I really enjoyed it the first time around, and my boys who are not so keen on musicals loved the show. I wish more people would have given it a try! The cast and the audience were no less enthusiastic than when the theater was full
and now I’m happy that I’m seeing both The Scottsboro Boys and Time Stands Still this weekend
I took my kids to see American Idiot this summer – what a great show! Once they find out Armstrong is going to be in it they’ll probably beg to go again. We were hoping to see Green Day on tour – this would be almost as good!
Thanks for continuing to write about Broadway on Popwatch! Happy to see Theater represented here.
Two quick corrections!
Time Stands Still isn’t closing. Today they announced the cast is leaving the show at the end of January, but that’s not a closing notice. Technically, the producers could replace.
Also, Billie Joe’s character, St. Jimmy, doesn’t sing “Last of the American Girls” in American Idiot.
Thanks for the corrections, NineDaves!
Yet Mamma Mia still goes on… Sad.
American Idiot is great and Mama Mia is very good. You can like both. Just like I love Green Day, the Ramones, X, Lady Gaga, Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond. My daughter saw American Idiot with Billy Joe the last time he was in it and loved it, as well as without him (I saw it without him and will probably try to see it with him, too). Guess I’ve got to get the tickets for Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson soon.
Looks like I’m gonna have to wait for BBAJ to go regional…dang.
Shoot I’d wanted to see Bloody Bloody again since I enjoyed it so much the first time.
NO! The Scottsboro Boys was INCREDIBLE. Also Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson was amazing too! And for a frequent theater goer it’s embarrassing to say that I still haven’t seen Next To Normal! This does not look good for Broadway. AH How can so much be closing all at once!
The good news, Avery, is there are a lot of shows opening in the spring – including a bumper crop of new musicals. And only one of them so far (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) would be considered a jukebox musical filled exclusively with pre-existing hits.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson was fantastic…very surprised to see it closing so soon. I thought it would be the sleeper hit of the season. Guess I was sadly wrong!
We live 3,000 miles away, but are now thinking about going to NY to see Mr. Armstrong on Broadway.
Tash, just so you know, here’s Billie Joe’s performance schedule:
January 1 – January 9
January 18 – January 30
February 10 – February 27
GAHHHHHH!!! I have to see it! I have been asking my mom to take me and she said she would. Now that I know that Billie is coming back I wanna go even more! Hopefully she will take me when he is in it!!