“The Play That Goes Wrong” has recouped its $4 million capitalization, 17 months after it began performances on Broadway.
The play originally announced it would be closing on Aug. 26, but reversed course in July, announcing that it would stay open through Jan. 6, 2019. It remains the longest running play currently on Broadway.
The play was produced by Kevin McCollum, J.J. Abrams and Kenny Wax and co-written by Mischief Theatre Company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields.
The play has been grossing about half of its potential for several weeks, bringing in $327,158 in the week ended Aug. 19, 2018, but it benefits from relatively low running costs.
Across about one year of performances, the play’s weekly operating expenses averaged about $305,000, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“It’s not rocket science. This is a business of passion and belief and stick-to-it-iveness. We knew we were a play without major star, about building careers, and that we had to keep costs as low as we could. I structured it that way,” McCollum said.
“The Shuberts were helpful by letting me extend. They believed in my show,” he added.
Abrams, too, brought attention to the play, as “his involvement definitely helped tell people this is something special,” McCollum said.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” began previews at the Lyceum Theatre on March 9, 2017 and opened on April 2, 2017.
