Days after Broadway opening, Elton John’s ‘Tammy Faye’ musical set to close

“Tammy Faye,” the big-budgeted Broadway musical about the life and times of ’80s televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, is already set to close just days after officially opening on Nov. 14.
Reps announced Tuesday the Elton John-produced show will come to an end on Dec. 8 after playing 24 previews and 29 regular performances at the newly renovated Palace Theatre.
Featuring new music from the EGOT-winning rock legend and lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, “Tammy Faye” suffered negative notices from theater critics and lackluster box office sales.
In his review of the musical, New York Daily News critic Chris Jones described the show as a “sneering and superficial production, feeling like the work of posh Brits poking fun at the American underclass without much clarity of purpose.”
According to data from The Broadway League, “Tammy Faye” played to just 63% audience capacity last week. The production was reportedly capitalized for $22 million.
The musical fared much better overseas, where it premiered on London’s West End in 2022 and earned four Olivier Award nominations, including for Best Musical.
Katie Brayben, who previously won rave reviews as the mascara-laden religious and pop culture figure, reprised her role for the short-lived Broadway run.
The two-time Olivier Award-winner led a cast that included Christian Borle as Jim Bakker, Michael Cerveris as Jerry Falwell and Charl Brown as gay pastor Steve Pieters.