Deborah Chan
The Broadway musical *Honeymoon in Vegas*—based on the 1992 film of the same name—announced its closing in March 2015 due to poor ticket sales. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in January 2015, received positive reviews from critics but failed to attract a wide audience. With a star-studded cast, including Tony Danza, Rob McClure, and Brynn O'Malley, the show told the story of a man's commitment issues and his romantic rival, a professional gambler. Despite its well-crafted score and witty set design, the musical struggled to fill seats, with weekly sales failing to crack $500,000.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Show | Honeymoon in Vegas |
| Type | Musical |
| Based on | 1992 film of the same name |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Story | Unusual love triangle |
| Premiered on Broadway | January 2015 |
| Closed on Broadway | April 5, 2015 |
| Director | Gary Griffin |
| Choreographer | Denis Jones |
| Original Cast | Tony Danza, Rob McClure, Brynn O'Malley, Nancy Opel, Matthew Saldivar, David Josefsberg, Catherine Ricafort |
| Theatre | Nederlander Theatre |
| Address | 208 West 41st Street |
| Producers | Dena Hammerstein, Roy Gabay, Rich Entertainment Group, and others |
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What You'll Learn
Honeymoon in Vegas is based on the 1992 film of the same name
The musical Honeymoon in Vegas is based on the 1992 film of the same name. The film, written and directed by Andrew Bergman, is a comedy about a love triangle involving Jack, Betsy, and Tommy. In the film, Jack loses $65,000 in poker in Las Vegas, where he is marrying Betsy. The winner of the poker game wants a weekend with Betsy to cancel the debt, and she accepts. The film received generally positive reviews, with a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 63 out of 100 on Metacritic. It was also nominated for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 50th Golden Globe Awards, while Nicolas Cage was nominated for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
The musical adaptation of Honeymoon in Vegas premiered on Broadway in January 2015, following a successful engagement at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. The musical is also written by Andrew Bergman, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The Broadway production received mixed reviews, with some critics noting a "dated feel to the farcical plot". Despite this, the show received several Tony, Drama League, Astaire, and Outer Critics Circle nominations, and Rob McClure won Theatre World and Clive Barnes awards for his performance.
The story of the musical centres around Jack Singer and his girlfriend of five years, Betsy Nolan. Jack has a fear of commitment due to his mother's dying wish for him to never marry. However, he eventually proposes that he and Betsy elope to Las Vegas. Once there, Betsy catches the attention of Tommy Korman, a wealthy gambler. Tommy decides to steal Betsy from Jack and invites him to a private poker game. Betsy shops for a wedding dress while Jack plays poker with Tommy, and the winner of the game wants Betsy as a prize.
Despite some positive reviews, the musical Honeymoon in Vegas struggled at the box office. It was announced in March 2015 that the show would close on Broadway due to poor sales. The final performance was on April 5, 2015, at the Nederlander Theater.
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The Broadway musical received positive reviews
The Broadway musical adaptation of *Honeymoon in Vegas*, based on the 1992 film of the same name, received positive reviews from critics. The musical premiered on Broadway in January 2015 at the Nederlander Theatre, following a successful run at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.
Despite its critical acclaim, the show struggled to attract audiences and experienced poor sales at the box office. According to Playbill, the musical "was praised by critics but failed to catch on at the box office." Despite earning positive reviews from prominent publications like the New York Times, *Honeymoon in Vegas* failed to generate enough word-of-mouth buzz to fill seats.
The musical's story centres on Jack Singer, a commitment-phobic man who proposes to his girlfriend Betsy Nolan, only to face romantic rivalry from a professional gambler named Tommy Korman. The show's light-hearted and entertaining plot, coupled with a well-crafted score that recalled the sounds of Sin City, likely contributed to its positive reception among critics.
Marilyn Stasio, reviewing for Variety, praised the "garishly witty" set design and the "breezy score" that paid tribute to the art of finger-snapping. She also highlighted the talented onstage band, directed by Tom Murray, for their brassy swing styling. Stasio did note that the plot felt somewhat dated and that the second act could have benefited from further development.
Ben Brantley, writing for The New York Times, described the musical as "bright and bouncy" and a "real-live, old-fashioned, deeply satisfying Broadway musical in a way few new shows are anymore." The production also received positive reviews for its cast, with Rob McClure receiving multiple award nominations for his performance.
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The show struggled with poor sales at the box office
The Broadway musical "Honeymoon in Vegas" closed on April 5, 2015, due to poor sales at the box office. The musical, based on the 1992 film of the same name, received positive reviews from critics but failed to resonate with audiences.
Despite having a well-crafted score and a talented cast, including Tony Danza, Rob McClure, and Brynn O'Malley, the show struggled to attract ticket buyers in a crowded season. Weekly sales never surpassed $500,000, and in recent weeks before its closure, the show played to houses that were only 60% full or less.
The show's producers announced its impending closure on March 31, 2015, opting to cut their losses rather than wait for a potential sales boost from the Tony nominations. The musical had its world premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, on September 26, 2013, and officially opened on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on January 15, 2015.
"Honeymoon in Vegas" tells the story of Jack Singer, a commitment-phobic man who, despite his mother's dying wish for him to never marry, proposes to his girlfriend of five years, Betsy Nolan. They decide to elope to Las Vegas, where Betsy catches the attention of Tommy Korman, a wealthy gambler. Tommy invites Jack to a private poker game, intending to steal Betsy from him.
The musical was praised for its energetic score, witty set design, and talented cast, but some critics noted that the plot felt dated and could have benefited from further development. Despite its positive aspects, "Honeymoon in Vegas" struggled to attract audiences, ultimately leading to its premature closure on Broadway.
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The final performance was on April 5, 2015
The musical *Honeymoon in Vegas* played its final performance on Broadway on April 5, 2015, at the Nederlander Theatre. The musical is based on the 1992 film of the same name, written and directed by Andrew Bergman, who also wrote the book for the musical. The music and lyrics were composed by Jason Robert Brown.
The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, on September 26, 2013, and ran through October 27, 2013, before moving to Broadway in 2014. The Broadway production was directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Denis Jones. The cast featured Tony Danza as Tommy Korman, Rob McClure as Jack Singer, Brynn O'Malley as Betsy Nolan, Nancy Opel as Bea Singer, Matthew Saldivar as Johnny Sandwich, David Josefsberg as Buddy Rocky/Roy Bacon, and Catherine Ricafort as Mahi.
The story centres on Jack Singer, a mild-mannered Brooklynite who promised his dying mother that he would never marry. However, he falls in love with Betsy Nolan and eventually proposes that they elope to Las Vegas to get married. In Las Vegas, Betsy catches the attention of Tommy Korman, a wealthy gambler, who decides to steal her away from Jack. The musical received positive reviews, with critics praising the set design, score, and performances.
Despite the positive reviews, the show struggled at the box office, with low ticket sales. The producers decided to close the show rather than wait for a potential sales lift from the Tony nominations. The final performance marked the end of the musical's run on Broadway, but it continued to have a life beyond Broadway, with subsequent productions and performances.
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The musical featured an impressive cast
The cast was led by Tony Danza, a well-known actor who had previously starred in the 1992 film "Honeymoon in Vegas" as well as the Broadway production. Rob McClure, who played Jack Singer, had also received several award nominations and wins for his performance in "Chaplin: The Musical". Brynn O'Malley, who portrayed Betsy Nolan, joined McClure in promoting the show by answering questions from fans.
The supporting cast included seasoned actors such as Nancy Opel, who had been a part of the workshop production, and Matthew Saldivar. David Josefsberg took on the dual roles of Buddy Rocky and Roy Bacon, the world's funniest Elvis impersonator, according to Marilyn Stasio of Variety. Catherine Ricafort rounded out the primary cast as Mahi.
The show's creative team included notable individuals such as director Gary Griffin, choreographer Denis Jones, and composer and three-time Tony Award winner, Jason Robert Brown. Brown also conducted the London premiere of the musical in 2017, showcasing his versatility and talent.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Honeymoon in Vegas closed on Broadway on April 5, 2015, due to poor sales at the box office.
Honeymoon in Vegas is a musical based on the 1992 film of the same name. It centres on a love triangle between Jack, Betsy, and Tommy, a wealthy gambler.
Despite receiving positive reviews from critics, the show struggled to attract audiences and consistently made losses at the box office.
