Elton John attributes the closure of his musical 'Tammy Faye' to its alleged overt political nature.
Rewritten Article:
Elton John, the musical legend, isn't shy about admitting when a project doesn't hit the mark. In a candid conversation with the Sunday Times, the star opened up about the flop that was his Broadway production of "Tammy Faye."
The much-anticipated musical, based on the life of the iconic singing televangelist, debuted on Broadway on November 14, but failed to find an audience, closing its doors a month later. This disappointing turnout has been blamed primarily on the production's political overtones.
"We've had two musicals recently, one a massive bomb in America and the other a smash hit in England," John shared, referring to "Tammy Faye" and the West End production of "The Devil Wears Prada," respectively.
John suspects that the show's political content, timed as it was with the 2024 US election, may have played a role in its failure.
"'Tammy Faye' hit the stage during the US election and it's all about how the merger of church and state ruined America, which Ronald Reagan was known for," he said. "It was too political for America. They don't really get irony."
Reports from the New York Times reveal that the show struggled to sell tickets, with houses in the Palace Theater averaging 63% capacity[1]. The production was helmed by Elton John himself, who provided the music, Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters who wrote the lyrics, and Rupert Goold as the director. Katie Brayben took on the titular role.
Despite John's successful track record of producing music for Broadway, such as "The Lion King," "Billy Elliot," and "Aida," the "Tammy Faye" production marks a disappointing addition to his portfolio. His latest musical collaboration, "Who Believes in Angels?" with singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, was released more recently[5].
Insights:
The "Tammy Faye" production's poor performance can be largely attributed to its perceived political slant. The show touches upon the integration of church and state in America, a topic that Elton John believes was exemplified by Ronald Reagan's policies. This political focus may have alienated audiences, suggesting that Americans may not fully grasp the concept of irony[1][2][3][4].
Additionally, "Tammy Faye" received mixed to negative reviews, with critics noting that the music provided insight into Tammy Faye's character but lacked standout tracks beyond a few exceptions. The show also struggled to balance its exploration of the televangelism boom with its broader themes, resulting in a "surface-level" portrayal[2].
- Elton John's musical production of "Tammy Faye" in 2024, centered around the life of the televangelist, underperformed, closing barely a month after its Broadway debut.
- Tammy, portrayed by Katie Brayben, found her musical struggling to find an audience, with houses at the Palace Theater averaging only 63% capacity.
- Despite his success in producing Broadway hits like "The Lion King," "Billy Elliot," and "Aida," John's production of "Tammy Faye" marks a disappointing addition to his portfolio, as its political content seemed to have deterred some audiences.
