Despite all the awards and attention Cats: The Jellicle Ball has received, the Broadway production has posted a closing notice.  While the notice was announced by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, he’s also the one complaining about it.  The show was supposed to run until January 17^th, but Lord Andy says it will prematurely close on August 8^th.  “What is happening in front of all who care about the Great White Way breaks my heart.  One of the last things Hal Prince said to me was that it broke his heart that it was impossible for new or daring work to be originated on Broadway anymore.”  That’s a whole lotta heartbreak for one sentence.  ALW continues: “The truth is that, for any show, it makes practically no financial sense to come to Broadway with things as they are.  Creators, writers, and directors have been forced to take minimal royalties from new shows, often surviving on a fixed weekly fee rather than a royalty.  It makes it impossible for young creatives to make a living from theatre alone.  Investors count themselves fortunate indeed if they see a portion of their money back.”  I would hope Andy isn’t implying that he is on the brink of food stamps.  He ends by saying, “Broadway is in dire danger of rivaling Hollywood’s empty soundstages with increasingly dark theatres.”  Not that it’s germane to this conversation, but Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s net worth hovers around $1.2 billion.  Not bad for minimal royalties.

Someone who is doing quite well in the theatre is Cole Escola.  The brains behind Oh, Mary! has a new feather in his cap – he’s going to star in a filmed version of the play!  Hot on the heels of the premature departure of comedian Catherine Tate from the title role in the West End production came some good news.  Cole will rejoin that cast – fortuitously in time to film the show on July 28^th.  Joining him from the Broadway cast will be our own Michael Urie as Mary’s teacher.

We interrupt this column for an announcement from Cheyenne Jackson (who, as it happens, also played the role of Mary’s teacher in the Broadway production of Oh, Mary!).  Cheyenne will be bringing his latest solo show to Provincetown.  The Mid Life Torso Tour (and what a torso it is) hits Town Hall on August 2^nd.  It will be presented by Mark Cortale.  You can grab tickets at PtownTownHall.com.