Elton John’s ‘Tammy Faye’ musical announces it is closing just days after Broadway debut
As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the captivating world of musical theater, I find myself both enthralled and disheartened by the brief run of “Tammy Faye” on Broadway. Having grown up in the era of Tammy Faye Messner’s televangelism, I was eager to witness the story of this intriguing figure brought to life on the grand stage of the Palace Theatre.
The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.
The Broadway musical by Elton John, focusing on the life of Tammy Faye Messner (formerly known as Tammy Faye Bakker in the ’70s and ’80s, who was renowned as “the first lady of televangelism”), is shutting down only a week after its debut on November 14. The show will conclude on December 8 following 24 previews and 29 regular performances, according to Broadway World.
The musical “Tammy Faye” debuted at the Almeida Theatre in London during 2022. Following outstanding critical acclaim – and winning four Olivier Awards, including Best Musical – it moved to Broadway for the 2024-25 season, marking it as the first major production to open in the newly refurbished Palace Theatre.
The audience in New York found the Rupert Goold production underwhelming, as Variety criticized it as a “misguided import” from the West End. According to reports by the Guardian, the play “Tammy Faye” earned less than $400,000 in its first week (it had potential to earn up to $25 million), and played to crowds filling only 63% of the available seats during that timeframe.
A day prior to when the final news broke, Jake Shears, the songwriter of the musical, rejoiced over the progress made by “Tammy Faye.
Experiencing the journey of taking Tammy Faye to Broadway was an exhilarating part of my life,” he shared on Instagram. “Working alongside every member of our outstanding cast has been truly amazing. Their energy and skill are awe-inspiring, and watching them perform is a delight.
He expressed his conviction that musical theater, with its intricate nature and complex administrative aspects, is one of the oldest forms of art still in existence today. Echoing this sentiment, he noted that the process remains essentially unchanged from centuries past. Shortcuts are non-existent, he added, and it’s this very challenge that makes him appreciate musical theater the most.
After that, he expressed gratitude towards his family members, acquaintances, and fellow creators, as well as the central figure of the show – the evangelist, whose life rights were purchased by him and his partner, David Furnish, a decade and a half ago.
In 1985, Messner initially caught John’s interest when she was married to TV pastor Jim Bakker and interviewed Pastor Steve Pieters, who was openly gay and living with AIDS. According to the Hollywood Reporter’s recent report, this interview sparked a significant amount of criticism from conservative religious groups.
For such a prolonged and frequent period, I explored America, and my fascination for her grew so deeply,” the EGOT winner explained, “and that defining moment when she invited the pastor on stage was reminiscent of Princess Diana’s touching gesture, holding hands with the man at the AIDS clinic in London.
As a movie enthusiast, I found myself utterly captivated by this woman. Her presence, her speech, her actions – it was all so electrifyingly vibrant. This sparked an idea in me when the opportunity to create a musical presented itself. You see, I’m drawn to remarkable individuals who have experienced hardships and risen above them, regaining their footing through unwavering faith and belief. So I grabbed this chance with both hands because I wanted to tell her story – a tale of resilience, success, banishment, loss, and ultimately, triumph.
Currently, John’s musical adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada” is still running at the Dominion Theatre in London.
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2024-11-20 23:01