Andrew Lloyd Webber Warns Broadway Faces Dire Danger After 3-Tony Cats Revival Closes
Updated
Updated · Playbill · Jul 14
Andrew Lloyd Webber Warns Broadway Faces Dire Danger After 3-Tony Cats Revival Closes
3 articles · Updated · Playbill · Jul 14
Summary
Andrew Lloyd Webber said Broadway is nearing a crisis after Cats: The Jellicle Ball posted an August 8 closing notice despite strong reviews, solid attendance and three Tony wins.
85% attendance has not been enough to keep the revival running, underscoring his argument that new shows no longer make practical financial sense under current Broadway economics.
Lloyd Webber said creators, writers and directors are being pushed to accept minimal royalties or fixed weekly fees, and urged theater owners, unions and producers to reach an urgent fix.
Several new musicals this season — including Beaches, The Queen of Versailles and Chess — have already closed, while surviving titles have yet to break out as major box-office hits.
The warning adds to a broader industry alarm, with even Broadway League president Jason Laks previously acknowledging the strain as contract talks and weak musical economics cloud the market.
As audiences flock to star-led plays, must new musicals either downsize or die out on Broadway?
Could government subsidies, similar to London's West End, be the only lifeline for Broadway's struggling new musicals?
The Broadway Boom and Bust: How a $1.91 Billion Season Still Can’t Save Innovative Shows Like *Cats: The Jellicle Ball*
Overview
*Cats: The Jellicle Ball* premiered with great anticipation as a bold reimagining of the classic musical, led by directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch. The creative team fused Ballroom culture with traditional theater, earning praise from producers and resulting in a show described as 'thrillingly new.' This innovative approach aimed to attract a new generation of theatergoers. Despite its acclaim and fresh vision, the production is set to close on August 8, 2026, highlighting the paradox of creative success facing early closure in today’s challenging Broadway environment.