'Godspell' to close on Broadway
Corbin Bleu performs with the cast of "Godspell" at the 66th Annual Tony Awards in Manhattan. (June 10, 2012) Credit: AP
A spot at the Tony Awards telecast didn't help "Godspell." The musical will close by the end of the month.
Producer Ken Davenport said Wednesday that the hip retelling of the New Testament's Gospel of Matthew will close June 24 at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
The score by Stephen Schwartz features the songs "Day by Day," ''Turn Back, O Man," ''Prepare Ye the Way" and "Light of the World."
The 10-person cast featured Hunter Parish as Jesus, since then replaced by Corbin Bleu. It was the first Broadway revival of the rock musical and was directed by Daniel Goldstein and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli.
When it closes, it will have played 30 preview performances and 264 regular performances.
Though not nominated for any Tonys, the show managed to get one of its songs — "Light of the World" — featured on the telecast. But producers had warned that unless there was an uptick at the box office, the show would be shuttered.
Last week, the musical earned only $156,437 of its potential $764,280 over eight shows — or 20 percent. It will will launch a national tour in the 2013-2014 theater season.
