Should What Happens on Broadway Stay on Broadway?

As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "The second closing of a Broadway musical in as many months raises questions of whether Las Vegas casinos have imported unfair expectations along with the titles.

"Local producers of 'Hairspray' announced Monday the show will close Sunday, after four months at Luxor. Co-producers Michael Gill and Myron Martin would not comment beyond Gill's statement, 'The show did not find the audience it needed for us to continue.'

"It follows the May closing of 'Avenue Q' at Wynn Las Vegas and last year's closing of 'We Will Rock You,' a musical imported from London, not Broadway.

"Backers of new versions of 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'The Producers' remained resolute Tuesday, while Wynn Las Vegas officials reconfirmed plans for 'Monty Python's Spamalot' early next year in a 1,500-seat theater.

"...Industry speculation about 'Hairspray' covered everything from whether original star Harvey Fierstein's hefty paycheck -- said to be more than $1 million -- did not translate into ticket sales, to the recessed location of Luxor's box office..."

2006-06-07