Broadway audiences are saying goodbye sooner than expected to The Heart of Rock and Roll, a new musical built around the hit songs of Huey Lewis and the News. This production, which officially opened at the James Earl Jones Theatre on April 22nd, is set to close this Sunday, marking an abrupt end to its run.
The musical, a jukebox production featuring beloved tunes from Huey Lewis and the News, tells an original story. It centers on a factory worker at a cardboard box company who grapples with the choice between career advancement and pursuing his rock star dreams. Despite the catchy score and energetic performances, The Heart of Rock and Roll failed to resonate with Broadway audiences and did not receive any nominations for the prestigious Tony Awards this year.
The financial realities for The Heart of Rock and Roll on Broadway have been challenging. Recent weeks have shown consistently low box office grosses. For the week ending June 9th, the musical played to just 56 percent capacity, grossing $272,050. This figure falls significantly short of the typical weekly operating costs for a Broadway musical, making its continued run unsustainable.
By the time the curtain falls for the final time after the matinee performance on June 23rd, The Heart of Rock and Roll will have completed 24 preview performances and 72 regular performances.
The Broadway production was spearheaded by lead producers Tyler Mitchell, Hunter Arnold, and Kayla Greenspan, with Huey Lewis himself credited as a co-producer.
In a statement, producer Hunter Arnold expressed gratitude and optimism despite the closure. “It was pure joy working on the show with the team of creatives…and special gratitude to the support and participation of the iconic music legend Huey Lewis,” Arnold stated. He also highlighted the positive aspects, mentioning, “We were honored to have an amazing cast and crew who brought their immense enthusiasm, commitment and talent to each and every performance.” Looking ahead, Arnold noted future plans: “With our original cast album just released and talks underway for a national tour and international productions, the musical will continue to delight audiences for years to come.”
The cast of The Heart of Rock and Roll featured a talented ensemble, including Corey Cott, McKenzie Kurtz, Tamika Lawrence, Josh Breckenridge, F. Michael Haynie, John Dossett, Zoe Jensen, Raymond J. Lee, John-Michael Lyles, Orville Mendoza, and Billy Harrigan Tighe. While its Broadway journey is concluding, fans may still have opportunities to experience the Heart of Rock and Roll in future productions.
