Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber says he is “gutted” that the Broadway production of his musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball closes tonight at the Broadhurst Theatre. Both outlets report that the closure happens about five months earlier than the schedule originally planned for the production.
In an Instagram message, Lloyd Webber expresses disappointment at the early end of the show and credits the cast and creative team for a “wonderful” Broadway production. He also argues that the broader economics of staging large-scale productions on Broadway have become unsustainable, pointing to what he describes as the “unsustainable cost” of producing the show. Deadline and Variety both note that he frames the closure as a potential warning sign for future Broadway decisions.
Across the coverage, the reports differ mainly in emphasis—Deadline highlights the “gutted” tone and the timing of the closure, while Variety focuses more on Lloyd Webber’s comments about sustainability—both grounded in his public remarks leading into the final performance.
