The musical was composed by Elton John Tammy Faye It was announced just five days after opening that the theater would leave Broadway, with the sudden early closing attributed to poor ticket sales and negative reviews.
A $22 million musical based on the life of evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, Tammy Faye features music by Sir Elton with lyrics by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters and a book by James Graham. The play opened on Broadway on November 14 at the newly renovated Palace Theater on the Great White Way, following a series of preview screenings that began on October 19.
Now, however, it appears the musical is about to close its doors on Broadway for good, after just under 30 regular performances – in fact, there will be a total of 29 performances and 24 previews as of The closing date, newly announced, is December 8.
So what happened? Tammy Faye Leaving Broadway so soon after such a short time?
When the musical’s jarring ending date was announced on Tuesday (November 19), Hollywood Deadline reported that Tammy Faye has released some disappointing box office figures, with figures for the week of November 17 showing just 63% of seats at the Palace were filled. Total revenue for the week was reported at $374,371 — well below expectations. But negative reviews also played a role in its initial demise.
In a review for New York Timescritic Elisabeth Vincentelli called Tammy Faye a “strangely bland, disjointed musical,” adding, “Narratively and emotionally charged, Tammy Faye always shaky because I can’t decide whether it’s a satire of televangelism and power-hungry quasi-believers, a story of the rise of politicized religion, or a feminist journey the earnestness of an independent-minded woman.”
A blog called New York Theater agrees, writing: “With all its promise, Tammy Faye to me is essentially empty, with no clear reason to exist. The music largely sounds generic, the sets seem deliberately bland, the book mistakes crudity for intelligence.”
“Wrapped in a wildly fun score by Elton John,” the play’s website says.Tammy Faye illuminating the generous soul behind those illustrious eyelashes. Two-time Olivier Award winner Katie Brayben reprises her iconic performance as Tammy Faye Bakker, opposite two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle and two-time Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris .
As has also been noted by Durationthe closure of Tammy Faye free the Palace for another big show to take place, with proposed candidates rumored to include shows such as Ragtime.
Tags Elton John, Sir Elton John, Broadway, Broadway musical