Andrew Lloyd Webber is deeply concerned that Broadway is in “crisis”.
On Tuesday, producers announced that Cats: The Jellicle Ball – the Tony Award-winning reinvention of the composer’s classic musical Cats – would be ending its run at the Broadhurst Theatre on 8 August.
A short time later, Webber took to Instagram to post a lengthy message in which he expressed his fears about the current state of productions in the theatrical district of Manhattan, New York City.
“What is happening in front of all who care about the Great White Way breaks my heart. One of the last things (director) Hal Prince said to me was that it broke his heart that it was impossible for new or daring work to be originated on Broadway anymore,” he wrote. “The truth is that, for any show, it makes practically no financial sense to come to Broadway with things as they are.”
Webber went on to ponder whether classic shows like West Side Story would even have the “remote chance” of premiering on Broadway now.
“With its big cast and orchestra it would break even at well over $1 million weekly before any royalties to creatives. With its sets and costumes, the production could easily cost $30 million (£22 million). That was Hal Prince’s point,” the musical theatre impresario continued. “Creators, writers and directors have been forced to take minimal royalties from new shows, often surviving on a fixed weekly fee rather than a royalty. It makes it impossible for young creatives to make a living from theatre alone.”
And while Webber emphasised that the “big hits are still profitable”, he insisted Broadway can’t survive “because of three old shows”.
“As someone who is still as in love with Broadway as I was when I was a teenager, I beg the theatre owners, unions and producers to come together urgently to address what is a crisis coming to a head,” he added. “Broadway is in dire danger of rivalling Hollywood’s empty soundstages with increasingly dark theatres.”
Accordingly, a number of celebrities responded to the 78-year-old’s candid post.
“You’re exactly the person to say this to help drive the change that’s needed!” declared Nicole Scherzinger, while Rachel Zegler simply added a red heart emoji.
