Neil Simon Revival To Close After 8 Days

In tomorrow's NY Times Arts & Leisure section, page 3 features a big, 4-color ad boasting about the revival of Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs (it's sort of like this). However, the Times reports that it "will close on Sunday, and the companion production of Mr. Simon’s 'Broadway Bound' will not open as planned, because of weak ticket sales, according to an executive involved with the production." BBM "opened last Sunday to a mix of modest and positive reviews, but Emanuel Azenberg, the lead producer, had said that rave reviews would be essential to improve box office receipts."

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By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on October 31, 2009 4:09 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Next time, do it in Russian.

Mr Mel

The critics bombed revivals of Bye Bye Birdie and loved Finian's Rainbow. They were both, in their day, mega hits. So I guess it's how they're presented and/or directed, so it's far from a sure thing.

Powerhugs

Not surprising there are so many revivals on Broadway that if its not a Blockbuster its doomed considering what costs are. Hey but get real if they opened this show on Off Broadway it might have had a chance and tourists still would have showed up...And don't worry, Simon has alot of plays out there yet to be revived. Who said revivals need to be relevant to be successful?

Mr Mel

If there's not any new stuff they'll keep trying to recycle. It doesn't always work. Broadway as we know it is doomed. We'll only be able to fool some of the tourists some of the time.