Opening night of Motown: The Musical went very well until right after the curtain call. With the cast still buzzing at 10.15pm, producer Kevin McCollum had bad news: The show was ending its return run on Broadway early.
The song-heavy story of Motown Record’s tumultuous history was expected to run until November 13, but producers faced with lackluster box-office sales will now pull the plug after the July 31 performance.
The show’s original incarnation played 775 performances between 2013-15 and the show also went out on a US tour. The musical is told from the perspective of founder Berry Gordy, who wrote the story.
News of the show’s demise comes a few days after word that the Fiddler on the Roof revival will close on December 31.
