Despite a successful pre-Broadway run, ticket sales tapered quickly The Who’ s Tommy musical is closing on Broadway after ticket sales dwindled. The musical, featuring music and lyrics by Pete Townshend , started as a concept album in 1969 and debuted on Broadway in 1993 – and followed the titular Tommy, a pinball wizard who cannot hear, speak, or see due to childhood trauma. Last year, it was announced a reimagined revival was coming in 2024 from Townshend and director Des McAnuff.
However, it’s now been announced that Tommy is closing on Broadway after four months. See the sensation before it's too late! Our final Broadway performance is on July 21st! pic.twitter.
com/6xtDYgoEXy — The Who's Tommy Musical (@WhosTommyShow) June 25, 2024 Despite a successful pre-Broadway run, ticket sales tapered quickly when the musical left Chicago for New York. Having opened in March, the final performance is reportedly set for July 21. Once the musical has officially closed, it will have played 132 Broadway performances and 20 previews, the revenue from which won’t offset the $15.
7million budget. Commentators have pointed to a larger issue with ticket sales on Broadway, particularly as The Heart Of Rock And Roll , the jukebox musical based on Huey Lewis And The News songs, last week closed after just two months. However, similarly music oriented productions, such as the loosely Fleetwood Mac inspired Stereophonic and the Sufjan Stevens adaptation of Illinois, are comparatively far.
