‘Anything Goes’ Takes Final Bow on Broadway August 5, Tour Starts in October

Producers have announced that the current Broadway revival of “Anything Goes” will close on August 5.

While the closing date is five weeks earlier than was originally planned, it does come after the production was extended twice. After the final show, the production will have been performed 565 times since opening last year.

But there is good news for anyone that didn’t have the opportunity to see the production. A 25-city national tour is set to kick off in October in Cleveland.

“Anything Goes” is a production of the Roundabout Theatre Company, and opened on April 7 of last year at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The musical picked up three Tony Awards at last year’s ceremony, including Best Revival of a Musical.

The original production of “Anything Goes” opened on Broadway in 1934, and featured music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The current revival, however, is based on a 1987 revival which featured an updated book and presented the musical numbers in a rearranged order. Additionally, the new version added Cole Porter songs from different musicals he had written.

The official website for the current production offers this description:

As the S.S. America heads out to sea, two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, an exotic disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail. Peppering this hilariously bumpy ride are some of musical theatre’s most memorable standards, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-lovely” and of course, “Anything Goes.”           

The New York Times reports that the musical played to 78 percent capacity last week, and grossed $476,967. The paper points out that the gross probably indicates heavily discounted tickets.

In other Broadway news, it also was recently announced that “The Lyons,” a comedy by Nicky Silver, also will close. The final performance of the play will be July 1. At that point the production will have been performed on Broadway 101 times.