Producers said that the "Rocky" musical will give its "last performance at the Winter Garden Theater on Aug. 17," according to William Grimes of the N.Y. TIMES. The $15M musical -- based on the '76 film -- will have "run for 28 previews and 188 regular performances when it closes." It opened on Broadway in March "after a successful run in Hamburg, Germany." The show seemed to have "built-in appeal for younger males, who are notoriously difficult to attract to Broadway." It received "mixed reviews, however, failed to win a Tony nomination for best musical and struggled at the box office from the outset" (
N.Y. TIMES, 7/17). PLAYBILL.com's Adam Hetrick noted the "expansive production incorporates an actual boxing ring that descends onto the stage and slides out over the orchestra seating of the Winter Garden for the musical's final scene." Audience members seated in the orchestra section "are asked to file onto the stage to serve as spectators for the match, while remaining theatregoers are encouraged to stand and cheer on Rocky and Apollo Creed as they battle in real-time." Production reps said that producers are "exploring possible tours, sit-down productions and international stagings of the musical" (
PLAYBILL.com, 7/15).
