“Here Lies Love,” a nontraditional disco musical recounting the ascent and downfall of former Philippine First Lady , is set to wrap up its Broadway run later this month as a result of underwhelming ticket sales.
The final performance is scheduled for Nov. 26, marking the conclusion of 33 previews and 150 regular shows. Co-penned by and veteran DJ Fatboy Slim, the production commenced previews at the Broadway Theatre on June 17 before its grand opening on July 20.
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“Here Lies Love” originated as a concept album and had staged performances in Seattle and Off Broadway before making its debut on Broadway. The transfer to Broadway involved reconfiguring the venue to eliminate the orchestra seating and replace it with a dance floor. Although traditional seating was available in the mezzanine section, a segment of the audience stood and moved along with the actors during the performance to foster a party-like ambiance.
All these alterations entailed considerable expenses, and the production was operating at a loss due to unsold tickets. According to The Washington Post, it cost roughly $700,000 per week to stage “Here Lies Love,” surpassing the weekly box office income of $500,000 to $620,000.
“When we embarked on the journey to bring this daring and groundbreaking work to Broadway, we questioned: Can anyone innovate on Broadway? Is there a new trajectory? What does the prototype look like? Will audiences embrace something radically fresh? Who will these audiences be?” the producers expressed in a comprehensive statement.
“We have gained profound insights into the answers to those inquiries. Yes, new approaches can be effective. Artistic eminence can be attained. However, the truth is, triumphing on Broadway necessitates not only producing exceptional work with artistic significance but also building the audience for it. And the duration required to identify and cultivate new audiences is out of sync with the limited timeframes for audience expansion and awareness.”
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