Another Broadway production has been forced to scale back its Australian run as economic pressures continue to weigh on the live entertainment industry.
The remaining Australian run of Broadway sensation Waitress, starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Rob Mills, has been cut short. Producers have confirmed the musical’s planned Sydney season, due to start on August 1st, will not go ahead. The show will instead wrap up on July 19th in Melbourne.
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s beloved film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna (Bassingthwaighte) a small-town waitress and expert pie maker trapped in a difficult marriage who dreams of escape. When a baking contest and unexpected romance present new opportunities, Jenna discovers that change might be closer than she imagined, supported by her fellow waitresses in a tale of resilience and self-discovery.
In a statement sent to Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Waitress producer John Frost (of Crossroads Live) said a combination of cost-of-living pressures, higher interest rates and broader economic uncertainty had made the production financially unviable beyond Melbourne, despite positive audience response.
“While we remain incredibly proud of the production and grateful for the dedication and passion of everyone involved, the challenging economic conditions currently facing audiences have had a significant impact on the live entertainment industry,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have not been immune to these challenges.
“Whilst audience enthusiasm for our work remained strong, attendance levels and box office have not been sufficient to support the cost of the production.”
Ticket holders for the Sydney season will be contacted by Ticketmaster for refunds, according to the musical’s website. “We understand that this is disappointing news and we sincerely thank you for your understanding and ongoing support,” a statement reads.
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Waitress is the latest Broadway hit to fall victim to rising costs in Australia, following last week’s news of Beetlejuice the Musical, which similarly cancelled the remainder of its Australian tour. The production will now conclude in Brisbane on July 5th, with scheduled seasons in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney no longer going ahead.
At the time, producers Michael Cassel Group cited the “logistical realities” of touring a production of that scale across Australia, also pointing to rising operating costs and a more cautious consumer spending environment.
Similarly, Back to the Future: The Musical was canned in January despite plans for a national tour. Originally, it was expected to move from Sydney to Melbourne, with further seasons in other capital cities in the works.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source au.rollingstone.com ’
