And one more makes three.
It was announced today that “The Bardy Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady,” a musical parody based on the characters (and the songs) made famous by the classic television shows and the works of Shakespeare, is closing Oct. 23. The show’s closing follows in the wake of “Helldrivers of Daytona,” which abruptly closed just three nights after opening at the Royal George Theatre, and more recently, “Cheers Live on Stage!,” which ended its run at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place two weeks early.
“The Bardy Bunch,” written by Stephen Garvey, was originally slated to run through Nov. 27 at the Mercury Theater on North Southport. The show enjoyed a cult following in New York where it debuted Off Broadway in 2014.
Though “Cheers” was well-received by critics, “Helldrivers” received less-than-favorable notices.
The official statement on the closing of “Helldrivers” read in part:
… We are disappointed by the critical response, but we knew that it was a risky endeavor. Still, many of the people who saw it were thoroughly entertained and delighted by the work of our fantastic cast and musicians. We have decided to close the production and we will evaluate how we might make changes for future productions of the musical.
Tickets for “The Bardy Bunch” are still available for performances through Oct. 23 at mercurytheaterchicago.com. Tickets purchased for shows after that date can be refunded at point of purchase.
