'How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying' To Close On Broadway

NEW YORK -- Nick Jonas tried hard but couldn't keep Broadway's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" in business.

Producers of the musical said Tuesday they they were reluctantly handing it a pink slip after several months of lackluster box office revenue. Its final performance will be May 20.

When it closes, the revival will have played just over 500 performances since it opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in February 2011. It quickly recouped its $9 million initial investment that December, thanks to its then-star Daniel Radcliffe.

Jonas, best known as part of the Jonas Brothers boy band, took over the lead this January and had committed to staying until at least July 1, but ticket sales took a noticeable hit. Last week, the box office took in just $368,000 out of a potential gross of $1,394,000.

"My producing partners and I are extremely grateful to the unbelievably talented company of actors and skillful crew that have given vibrant life to this show for over 500 performances," producer Michael McCabe said in a statement.

The show was nominated for eight Tony Awards last year, and John Larroquette, in his Broadway debut, won the award for best actor in a featured role in a musical. Radcliffe was not nominated, even though the "Harry Potter" star packed the theater and earned new respect for his energy and enthusiasm.

This "How to Succeed in Business" production celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical and was the third time it has made it to Broadway. The last time, Matthew Broderick played amoral corporate climber J. Pierrepont Finch, the role later played by Radcliffe and Jonas.

Tony- and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, fresh off his winning "Promises, Promises," was given raves as the director and choreographer of the "How to Succeed in Business" revival. He nicely leveraged a delightfully cynical book about corporate behavior that resonates today. Songs by Frank Loesser included the hit "Brotherhood of Man."

"We could not have asked for a better vision of this legendary show than Rob Ashford's joyous production which literally sent audiences dancing out into the streets," producer John Gore said in a statement. "I am certain the original creators would be proud of this chapter in the legacy of this great show."

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Comments

[gg chicago]

08:46 PM on 05/30/2012

So sad to hear that "How to Succeed.."closed. We saw the show in March with Nick Jonas and where absolutely DELIGHTED with the entire production!!! It was so bright and brilliantly set, with fabulous costumes, catchy tunes, excellent choreography, and Nick Jonas was wonderful! We would have loved to see it again when we come back to the city in July. Lovely work for Broadway!

[IDIOTA]

07:48 PM on 05/09/2012

What was the problem?

[madcityy]

02:22 PM on 05/09/2012

U GOTTA TRY TO DO ALL YOU CANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[diagonotter]

01:14 PM on 05/09/2012

I went to the show in March, and it was a joy. So sorry to see i not have the success they had hoped. Nick Jonas was charming in the role, as I am sure was Darren Criss and of course Radcliffe.

[Amal Doleh]

10:50 AM on 05/09/2012

Eh, not shocked. The played the commercials over and over again, but as a New Yorker, I was not in the least bit interested. Why? Because Jonas looked really stiff and horrible as a broadway actor in the commercials...why would I go see the full-length version of that?