Kelli Barrett and Mitchell Jarvis stared in the Broadway show...

Kelli Barrett and Mitchell Jarvis stared in the Broadway show "Gettin' the Band Back Together," which closed Sept. 16 after six weeks of performances. Credit: Joan Marcus

The band is breaking up.

"We're like a plane trying to take off, and while we're gaining some altitude, we're just not doing it fast enough," wrote producer Ken Davenport of his "heart-crushing" decision to close the new Broadway musical "Gettin' the Band Back Together" on Sept. 16 after just six weeks of performances.

In a candid blog post, Davenport said that despite positive ratings from ticket buyers, word of mouth wasn't building fast enough to compensate for what he called "mean" reviews from critics, who lambasted the musical for its lack of originality. The story of a broker who, after being fired on his 40th birthday, goes home to live with his mom in New Jersey and attempts to resurrect his high school band, was written by Davenport and the improv group The Grundleshotz. It stars Mitchell Jarvis and Marilu Henner and is directed by John Rando.

Davenport noted that he could try to raise more money, but said he had a responsibility to investors, who will lose the entire $12.5 capitalization. Box-office numbers clarify his point. The show has never broken the $300,000 mark, and for the week ending Aug. 26 it grossed only $181,549 (23 percent of its potential), according to the Broadway League. 

When it closes, the show will have played 30 previews and 40 regular performances at the Belasco Theatre.  Find information on the remaining shows at gettinthebandbacktogether.com

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