Cats: The Jellicle Ball Closes 5 Months Early on Broadway as Costs Hit $18 Million
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Aug 8
Cats: The Jellicle Ball Closes 5 Months Early on Broadway as Costs Hit $18 Million
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Aug 8
Summary
Andrew Lloyd Webber said he was “gutted” as Cats: The Jellicle Ball played its final Broadway performance on Aug. 8, ending five months ahead of schedule at the Broadhurst Theatre.
The composer said the shutdown should warn Broadway about “unsustainable” costs of mounting new shows, after earlier urging theater owners, unions and producers to address what he called a worsening crisis.
That appeal drew split reactions: Nicole Scherzinger backed his call for change, while other commenters blamed theater landlords and defended union wages rather than sharing responsibility across both.
Box-office demand surged at the end — the show grossed a record $1,405,709 for the week ending Aug. 2 and sold standing room only — but the $18 million production still could not sustain its run.
The closing caps a 142-performance, 21-preview run for the Tony-winning revival and underscores broader pressure on Broadway economics even for acclaimed productions.
With Broadway bleeding money and producers fleeing to London, what drastic changes will New York's theater scene face to survive this financial crisis?
If a packed theater and Tony wins cannot save a Broadway hit, is the entire live theater business model doomed to collapse?