Sir Elton John’s Broadway musical "Tammy Faye" will shutter weeks after its debut due to underwhelming sales and critical reception.
Breitbart reported that the curtains are set to close prematurely on Sir Elton John's latest Broadway venture, the musical "Tammy Faye," which officially opened on November 14, 2024, at the Palace Theater in New York.
The show, which explores the tumultuous life of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, will end its run on December 8, 2024, after just a handful of performances following its debut.
The musical was a collaborative effort featuring music by Sir Elton John and lyrics by Jake Shears, with James Graham penning the book.
Despite the star-studded team and high expectations, "Tammy Faye" struggled from the start to fill seats.
According to reported figures, the musical grossed a mere $374,371 in the week ending November 17, with attendance reaching only 63 percent of the Palace Theater’s total capacity. This was an early indication that the production faced significant challenges in attracting an audience.
The critical response was equally disappointing. Major publications such as the New York Times and Variety delivered harsh critiques of the production’s execution.
The New York Times labeled the show as "disjointed, strangely bland," while Frank Rizzo from Variety echoed this sentiment, describing the musical as lacking "any sense of confidence, consistency, or purpose."
The production was directed by Rupert Goold, a renowned figure in theater. It starred Katie Brayben as the eponymous Tammy Faye, Christian Borle as her husband Jim Bakker, and Michael Cerveris in the role of televangelist Jerry Falwell.
Despite the poor reception and troubling box office stats, lyricist Jake Shears looked back on the production process with a positive sentiment, citing it as one of his most thrilling adventures thus far.
The musical’s brief history began with a London run from October to December 2022. Hopes were high that its American stint on Broadway would fare better; however, these hopes quickly dimmed as the extent of its lackluster performance became evident.
Following the announcement of its early closure, the financial repercussions are severe. The production was initially capitalized at $25 million, a sum that is now expected to be a total loss.
Frank Rizzo's colorful critique perhaps captured public sentiment best when he stated it was as "messy as Tammy's mascara," a nod to the famously flamboyant makeup of Tammy Faye herself.
The disconnect between the musical's high expectations and its eventual reception highlights a tough season for Broadway, where competition is fierce and even legends like Sir Elton John are not immune to setbacks.
This closure raises questions about the challenges faced by theatrical productions post-pandemic. Despite the all-star creative team and a previously successful London run, "Tammy Faye" could not resonate with or sustain a U.S. audience.
The early shutdown of production as potentially groundbreaking as "Tammy Faye" illustrates the unpredictability and rigor of theatrical art and business, leaving the industry and its observers to ponder what changes might be necessary to engage modern audiences.