Broadway's The Queen of Versailles Will Close Earlier Than Expected

Broadway's The Queen of Versailles has moved up its final performance to December 21 at the St. James Theatre. Last month, the musical, announced it would take its last bow on the first Sunday after the Christmas-New Year's holidays January 4, 2026.

The closing notice, particularly now that it has been hastened, is a stunningly abrupt end for the latest Broadway outing from Wicked luminaries Stephen Schwartz (who wrote the new musical's songs) and Kristin Chenoweth (who's starring and co-producing). The Queen of Versailles began previews October 8 and opened November 9; read the reviews here. Despite a mixed critical reception, the show had been performing well at the box office, making over $1 million a week post opening. It has been reported that the show had poor advance sales, which precipitated the early closure.

According to a statement from the producers, obtained by Deadline: "Unfortunately, the harsh economic realities of new Broadway musicals in a post-Covid landscape have caught up with us. The industry as a whole is no longer seeing the audience behaviors we’ve relied on to shape our strategies for decades. This has led us to the painful decision to move our closing earlier, to Sunday, December 21st."

READ: The Queen of Versailles Features a Staggering 1,100 Costumes, From Fashion Designer Christian Cowan

Chenoweth is playing the titular role of Jackie Siegel opposite Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus) as David Siegel. The musical, adapted from Lauren Greenfield's 2012 documentary by book writer Lindsey Ferrentino (The Fear of 13), follows the couple's endeavor to build the largest private home in the country in Orlando, Florida, only for the 2008 recession to dampen their dreams and lavish lifestyle. Two-time Tony winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending) is at the helm.

Both Chenoweth and Abraham are reprising their performances from the musical's pre-Broadway tryout last year, along with Melody Butiu (Here Lies Love) as Sofia, Stephen DeRosa (BOOP! The Musical) as John, Greg Hildreth (Company) as Gary, Tatum Grace Hopkins (Meek) as Jonquil, Isabel Keating (The Boy From Oz) as Debbie, and Nina White (Kimberly Akimbo) as Victoria. Broadway favorite Sherie Rene Scott will play Jackie Siegel at certain performances (find out when here).

READ: To Kristin Chenoweth, Queen of Versailles Is 'a Cautionary Tale of the American Dream'

The company also includes Pablo David Laucerica, David Aron Damane, KJ Hippensteel, Drew Elhamalawy, Michael McCorry Rose, Andrew Kober, Ryah Nixon, Shea Renne, Cassondra James, and Yeman Brown. Standby Christopher Gurr, and swings Jesse Kovarsky, Travis Murad Leland, Grace Slear, Anne Fraser Thomas, and Jake Bentley Young round out the company. Casting is by Stephen Kopel and Carrie Gardner of C12 Casting.

The production also features choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant (Parade), music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Some Like It Hot), scenic and video design by Dane Laffrey (Maybe Happy Ending), costume design by fashion designer Christian Cowan, lighting design by Natasha Katz (Sweeney Todd), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Beetlejuice), hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan, orchestrations by John Clancy, technical costume design by Ryan Park, props by Ray Wetmore and JR Goodman, music coordination by Kristy Norter, and resident direction by Stephen Sposito. Clarissa Marie Ligon is production stage manager.