DECEMBER 11, 2024

Hello, Whisperites, 

After the hectic crunch before Thanksgiving, did you think December would be a bit quieter? Ha! In the time between our last edition and this one, we got the announcement on Thursday that Swept Away would close on December 15, and then last night — right in the nick of time, as if another ship had spotted its lifeboat in the open ocean before everyone started [spoiler]ing each other — we learned that the Avett Brothers musical would extend for another two weeks until December 29. (Stark Sands said there had been a surge of ticket sales, and if you consult the grosses, you’ll see a solid tick upward.) It’s the kind of thing that might make you believe in a Christmas miracle if you’re into that sort of thing — if you see Swept Away, you may discover it’s very Christian, as well as about [spoiler]; I sort of think emphasizing both or either would have moved tickets. Though of course this is all happening in the middle of a lot of other closings. Tammy Faye and Water for Elephants wrapped up on Sunday; The Notebook closes December 15, as does The Roommate and Big Gay Jamboree. We’re clearing the slate for a bright movie-star-clogged exciting New Year. 

Amid all our other December news, we should also note that Sara and I have published our top-ten lists of theater for the year and that two equally important American political figures will be making their Broadway debuts: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Trisha Paytas.

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This week’s grosses are here! Jackson McHenry, Jason P. Frank, Brandon Sanchez, Devon Ivie, and Christopher Bonanos discuss.

Jackson McHenry: Sales are down a little after Thanksgiving, but still so very high: second-best week of the year. 

Jason P. Frank: I think it's worth taking the time to celebrate something doing well as opposed to just highlighting the misses of the year. In that vein: Good for Death Becomes Her! Always happy to see Megan Hilty playing to packed houses. 

Brandon Sanchez: The box office becomes her!

Devon Ivie: Okay, Jackson, here is a question that perhaps Whisperites/Whisperettes will appreciate because they are also too scared to ask: The Outsiders is at 101.86 percent capacity … how the heck is that possible?!? 

Jackson: They just keep moving the line (of sales) (upwards). 

Devon: Are people moshing the stage? 

Jackson: Over 100 percent capacity usually means selling standing-room only (SRO) tickets. 

Devon: Shows I would not stand two and a half hours for: Tammy Faye, Left on Tenth, Romeo & Juliet. 

Brandon: The Heart of Rock & Roll? 

Devon: I would've stood all day! 

Jackson: Would you stand for one hour and 45 minutes (no intermission) of Swept Away, or would you succumb to sea madness and [spoiler] the other people around you?

Devon: Challenge accepted!

Christopher Bonanos: Lash yourself to the snack bar like Odysseus.

By Sara Holdren and Jackson McHenry

Photo-Illustration: Mia Angioy. Source: Matthew Murphy, Maria Baranova, Emilio Madrid, Joan Marcus

It’s that time of year again, when Vulture’s critics embark on our messiest annual tradition: the finalization of our top-ten lists. Here are the best shows that theater critics Sara Holdren and Jackson McHenry saw in 2024.

Alex Timbers, Simon Rich, the Bengsons. Seated: Richard Kind, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Mulaney, Fred Armisen

We've got an exclusive first look here at the opening-night cast, creative team, and set of All In: A Broadway Comedy About Love. As you can see, it's stocked with Peak Funny People: Richard Kind, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Mulaney, and Fred Armisen will perform stories by Simon Rich, directed by Alex Timbers, with music supplied by Abigail and Shaun Bengson. The show's constructed out of of Rich's short stories about romance, heartbreak, and resentment — all the greatest feelings! It goes into previews tonight at the Hudson for a December 22 opening.

➽ Trisha Paytas will make her Broadway debut in an original show called Trisha Paytas’ Big Broadway Dream.

➽ A Jamie Lloyd–directed Evita will return to London in summer 2025.

➽ Stereophonic plays a Tiny Desk concert with its original cast.

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