‘Motown: The Musical’ Opens On Broadway, Then The Bad News

Opening night of “Motown: The Musical” went very well until right after the curtain call. With the cast still buzzing at 10:15 p.m., producer Kevin McCollum had bad news: The show was ending its return run on Broadway early.

Photo: Joan Marcus/Boneau/Bryan-Brown via AP

The song-heavy story of Motown Record’s tumultuous history was expected to run until Nov. 13, but producers faced with lackluster box-office sales will now pull the plug after the July 31 performance.

The show’s original incarnation played 775 performances between 2013-15 and the show also went out on a national tour. The musical is told from the perspective of founder Berry Gordy, who wrote the story.

News of the show’s demise comes a few days after word that the “Fiddler on the Roof” revival will close Dec. 31.