Broadway Ready To Pull The Plug On 'Aladdin' If Ticket Sales Don't Increase: Source
Days after Aladdin returned to the stage, an insider exclusively tells OK! the musical may be getting the boot from the stage for good.
Disney is eyeing the end of the musical's time on a Broadway stage if business doesn't pick up, according to a top Broadway source, who candidly adds: “At the end of the day, Aladdin is a kiddies show."
Noting Aladdin usually draws in a crowd of tourists and children — who have been unable to see shows since Broadway shut down due to the pandemic — the insider admits: "It just cannot survive on Broadway."
Disney is a multi-billion dollar company, but they're allegedly losing money by the day if they keep the show up and running. "Yes, Disney have a lot of money but if current ticket sales don’t increase, they will be losing at least $200,000 a week to keep the show running," the OK! insider points out.
"Disney can afford to do that for a few slow weeks," dishes the source, "but with no sign of tourists coming back and parents still not able to get kids vaccinated they are left with no other choice than to close the show and focus on saving their other Broadway show, The Lion King!”
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The source adds that Aladdin won't be the only show taking a hit, saying the slow months of January and February could see 15-20 Broadway shows shutting down for good.
"The pandemic has wiped Broadway out," spills the source. "If you are not a long running show with deep pockets, you are dead.”
Aladdin returned to the stage Tuesday, October 5, for the first time in 18 months, but was shut down the following day due to breakthrough COVID-19 cases amongst the cast and crew. The musical is set to return after a 12-day break.
News of the show's cancellation was announced just a half-hour before curtain, AM New York reported.
“Because the wellness and safety of our guests, cast, and crew remain our top priority, we’ve made the decision to cancel performances starting tonight, Friday, October 1st, through Sunday, October 10th,” the official announcement read.
