Broadway's How to Succeed in Business to close

Nick Jonas tried hard but couldn't keep Broadway's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in business.

Producers of the musical said Tuesday they they were reluctantly handing it a pink slip after several months of lacklustre box office revenue. Its final performance will be May 20.

When it closes, the revival will have played just over 500 performances since it opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in February 2011. It quickly recouped its $9 million US initial investment that December, thanks to its then-star Daniel Radcliffe.

Jonas, best known as part of the Jonas Brothers boy band, took over the lead this January and had committed to staying until at least July 1, but ticket sales took a noticeable hit. Last week, the box office took in just $368,000 US out of a potential gross of $1,394,000 US.

"My producing partners and I are extremely grateful to the unbelievably talented company of actors and skilful crew that have given vibrant life to this show for over 500 performances," producer Michael McCabe said in a statement.   

The show was nominated for eight Tony Awards last year, and John Larroquette, in his Broadway debut, won the award for best actor in a featured role in a musical. Radcliffe was not nominated, even though the Harry Potter star packed the theatre and earned new respect for his energy and enthusiasm.

Actor Darren Criss of TV's Glee took over the lead role immediately after Radcliffe's departure in January.

This How to Succeed in Business production celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical and was the third time it has made it to Broadway. The last time, Matthew Broderick played amoral corporate climber J. Pierrepont Finch, the role later played by Radcliffe, Criss and Jonas.

Tony- and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, fresh off his winning Promises, Promises, was given raves as the director and choreographer of the How to Succeed in Business revival. He nicely leveraged a delightfully cynical book about corporate behaviour that resonates today. Songs by Frank Loesser included the hit Brotherhood of Man.   

"We could not have asked for a better vision of this legendary show than Rob Ashford's joyous production which literally sent audiences dancing out into the streets," producer John Gore said in a statement. "I am certain the original creators would be proud of this chapter in the legacy of this great show."