Andrew Lloyd Webber laments Cats: The Jellicle Ball closure, warns of Broadway's rising costs

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber announced the shutdown of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” and warned that mounting expenses are making new Broadway productions financially untenable.

Ahead of the last night of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” Andrew Lloyd Webber posted on Instagram that he was “gutted” by the show's closure and used the moment to critique the escalating costs of mounting new Broadway shows. The production, which transformed the beloved musical into a fierce drag competition, debuted on Broadway in April after an off-Broadway run that began in June 2024. Initial weekly grosses ranged between $900,000 and $1 million, but revenues sharply declined after the show failed to secure the best revival Tony, losing to “Ragtime.”

Although the musical earned three Tony awards for costume design, direction, and choreography, it shuttered five months early at the Broadhurst Theatre. Webber’s earlier Instagram remarks warned that without change, Broadway could end up with “dark theatres” akin to Hollywood’s idle soundstages, as creators are forced to accept minimal royalties. He reaffirmed his commitment to new work, noting a collaboration with director Jamie Lloyd on a Broadway version of “Evita” featuring Rachel Zegler after its successful West End run.