The stage musical version of Disney’s animated classic The Little Mermaid will close it’s Broadway run Aug. 30 after 685 performances and 50 previews.
According to Variety, Disney Theatrical Productions opted to end the show, which has run less than two years, to avoid the annual ticket sales slowdown at the Rialto and to prepare the show for a planned tour in fall of 2010.
The production will end up having one of the shorter runs of Disney’s stage properties and likely did not recoup its initial investment. The trade estimates the costly show was capitalized for more than $15 million and grossed around $73 million in its Broadway run.
Disney’s The Lion King and Mary Poppins are currently playing on Broadway, with some 12 to 15 properties in various stages of development.
