Rock of Ages is ending its six-year run on Broadway on January 16 but it isn't for lack of success (from The Hollywood Reporter). The '80s-rock music based musical has gathered five Tony nominations and, perhaps importantly, $125 million in revenue over its run. No reason was given for the exit but the show will continue to live on thanks to performances at The Venetian in Las Vegas and aboard the The Breakaway, a Norwegian cruise ship.
The story of Rock is out West after getting its start out there more than eight years ago. The show began as a six-week run at the Vanguard Hollywood nightclub in Los Angeles during 2006 before moving to The Flamingo in Las Vegas. After a brief run off-Broadway, the show finally made the great white way in 2009. It recouped its capital investment during 2012 and continued its successful run since. It has broken the box office record at the Helen Hayes Theatre, its home for several years, ten times. Spinoffs such as the Rock of Ages Hollywood motion picture didn't hurt promotions.
The final numbers will include 2,328 regular performances on Broadway and an audience of more than 1.5 million.
"As a team we've experienced the greatest - and in many ways, unexpected - joys of having a hit show and being a part of the Broadway community," said producer Jonathan Linden. "From performing at The Tony Awards, to the Super Bowl, and Times Square on New Year's Eve, this has been the ride of a lifetime for the entire Rock of Ages family, and I am so proud of what we've all accomplished."
The New York Times stated that no show was announced to take Rock of Ages' place but the end of its run will allow Second Stage Theater (a non-profit) to purchase and renovate the Helen Hayes Theatre.
