We can only speculate because it hasn't been commented on publicly by Rudin (to my knowledge). My opinion is that he wants to go out on top. It seems inevitable that sales will sag with some of these future dream casting ideas. I don't believe that anyone who is primarily known for Broadway, with the exception of Patti LuPone, would sell enough tickets to keep this operating profitably for her limited run. Look how the grosses dropped with Peters, who to me is on the same level as LuPone in terms of being a big enough Broadway star to be a draw. Certainly respectable, but plenty of open seats. Look how one performance a week with the brilliant and awarded Donna Murphy is on TDF, even in the face of the near impossibility of snagging a reasonably priced ticket to the Midler performances.
The other option is more mega watt stars. Names that have been thrown around like Queen Latifah. Maybe Rudin has put out feelers. Maybe he can't find enough or any stars of this level willing to do the number of weeks he'd need to justify putting them in the show.
It's had a great run with three outstanding interpretations, and a glorious production and supporting cast around them. Time for the next thing. Isn't Rudin's new play going into this very theatre? Onward! |
