Final 'Cats' purr set for June
Webber musical to shutter after 7,397 perfs
Andrew Lloyd Webber's weekend announcement signaled pulse-taking of the other three big musicals that have become permanent fixtures on the Gotham legit scene.
In the first six weeks of 2000, "Cats" averaged only 45.33% capacity, rising above the magical 50% mark just one week out of the six.
In contrast, "The Phantom of the Opera," which opened in 1988, played 77.52% cap, while "Les Miserables," which opened in 1987, did 76.70% during the same period.
The 2000 track record of "Miss Saigon," however, more closely resembles that of "Cats." The tuner, which opened in 1991, averaged 51.79% for the first six weeks of the new year, with the weeks evenly split between scoring above or below the 50% bench mark.
Alan Wasser is general manager on three of these tuners (not "Cats"). With regard to "Miss Saigon" going the way of "Cats" any time soon, Wasser said, "We're always looking where the show stands, but nothing firm (to announce) yet."
