Unfortunately, the Tupac-inspired Holler If Ya Hear Me wasn't the hit everyone expected it to be.
Poor business and poor critical reviews have led to the cast and crew of the Broadway musical taking their final bows sooner than we thought.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the non-biographical production, which is based off songs by the late rapper, will have its last performance next Sunday (July 20).
The final show will be held just a month after its opening.
Holler If Ya Hear Me began previews at the Palace Theatre on June 2, and officially opened June 19. THR says some insiders speculated that producers might pull the plug even before opening night given the alarmingly low audience turnout during previews.
Given its location in the heart of the bustling Times Square, it was believed the show would do exceptionally well.
But even after reconfigured the theater's orchestra section downsizing by 600 seats, the $8 million still struggled to fill seats.
The production was essentially doomed from the start with catastrophically low numbers, never once reaching $200,000 during its six weeks on the boards.
That's a huge slip from the more than $1 million a week grossed regularly by hit Broadway shows.
Lead producer Eric L. Gold spoke on the promising play's turn of events.
"My hope is that a production of this caliber, powerful in its story telling, filled with great performances and exciting contemporary dance and music, will eventually receive the recognition it deserves," Gold said in a statement. "It saddens me that due to the financial burdens of Broadway, I was unable to sustain this production longer in order to give it time to bloom on Broadway. Tupac's urgent socially important insights and the audiences' nightly rousing standing ovations deserve to be experienced by the world."
We'd love to hear about your experience if you saw the show. Tell us about it in the comment section below.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
