Celebrity Autobiography, the Broadway specialty production in which celebrities read the memoirs of other well-known figures for comic effect, will play its final performance at the Shubert Theatre on Sunday, June 21, closing about two months earlier than originally expected.
The show has struggled to attract a broad audience since opening, receiving poor reviews or, in many cases, no reviews at all from major publications. Performances began on Saturday, May 16, with opening night on Monday, May 18. By the time it closes, the production will have played three preview performances and 40 regular performances. When tickets first went on sale, the show was scheduled to run through Sunday, August 16.
Producers said they plan to announce future plans for the production soon. No recoupment has been announced, and the show has not disclosed the amount of its capitalization.
The production’s weekly box office has remained weak throughout its Broadway run. Its highest weekly gross reached $74,437 for the week ending June 7, based on attendance of 3,300, or 37% of the Shubert Theatre’s capacity. The average ticket price that week was $22.56.
Audience reactions on chat sites suggested that many viewers felt the material was familiar from earlier international and regional productions and had not been sufficiently updated for Broadway. One long segment reportedly revisited the long-discussed romantic relationships involving Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Eddie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds.
The final roster of rotating performers includes Caroline Aaron, Brooke Adams, Pamela Adlon, Scott Adsit, Lewis Black, Matthew Broderick, Danny Burstein, Mario Cantone, Bonnie Comley, Katie Couric, Mikey Day, Frank DiLella, Tate Donovan, Alexander Dreymon, Gina Gershon, Mickey Gooch Jr., Kathy Griffin, Jeff Hiller, Jackie Hoffman, Christopher Jackson, Gayle King, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Stewart F. Lane, Robert Sean Leonard, Ralph Macchio, Ben Mankiewicz, Andrea Martin, Eric McCormack, Bobby Moynihan, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Phil Rosenthal, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tony Shalhoub, Molly Shannon, Kenan Thompson, Nia Vardalos, Bruce Vilanch, Kate Walsh, Allison Williams, and Rita Wilson.
Celebrity Autobiography is produced on Broadway by Rita Wilson, Eric Falkenstein, Douglas Denoff, and original producer Angelo Fraboni, along with a long list of additional producers. Scenic and costume design are by Derek McLane, lighting design by Ed McCarthy, and sound design by Palmer Hefferan.
