The Broadway musical that celebrates Harlem’s Cotton Club and the life of Duke Ellington is sadly coming to an end this month. According to reports, Tony Awards-winning After Midnight will close its doors on June 29 due to lackluster box office sales.
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“Despite its splashy opening number on the CBS awards telecast, it appears not to have seen a significant enough boost at the box office to stick out the summer months,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. “The show has played to modest business throughout its eight-month run, registering its strongest week over Christmas, with box office of $891,410.”
If you’re familiar with the jazzy musical, then you know it featured a rotating roster of guest stars like Fantasia Barrino, Toni Braxton, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Vanessa Williams. This summer, Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole were scheduled to put their own twist on songs like “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” ”Stormy Weather” and ”On the Sunny Side of the Street”. Patti LaBelle is the show’s current star, but unfortunately casting didn’t prove enough to sustain the production.
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By the end of its run, sources say After Midnight will have played for 19 previews and 272 regular performances. If you haven’t already, you have two more weeks to see the lively show!
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