Barry Manilow, the iconic adult contemporary artist who has consistently released music for decades, is reportedly not selling well on Broadway.
According to the New York Post, the 76-year-old will face numerous empty seats throughout his 17-date Broadway residency. While his shows tonight and Saturday night are nearly sold out, sources told The Post that about half the seats over the next three weeks are empty. Manilow is playing at the 1,500-capacity Lunt-Fontanne Theatre with tickets ranging from $100 to $300. These sluggish sales surprised insiders, since he had to extend his residency in Las Vegas after performing his 500th show at Westgate’s International Theater.
Insiders believe that the slow sales may be because Broadway differs from Las Vegas in a few ways.
“The Vegas crowd is all tourists who will buy tickets or discount tickets to just about anyone who’s playing — even if the performer, like Barry, hasn’t had a hit in years,” an insider told The Post. “The Broadway crowd is more sophisticated and a tougher sell.”
Although his shows don’t seem to be a hot-selling ticket at the moment, Manilow isn’t new to Broadway; he won a Tony Award back in 1977 during his Broadway debut and sold out during shows at the Gershwin Theatre in 1989 and St. James Theatre in 2013. Manilow has a vast catalog, bringing in fans from all generations with timeless tracks like “Could It Be Magic,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana (At The Copa).”
“I am thrilled to be returning to my hometown of New York City and performing once again on Broadway,” Manilow said in a statement when the residency was first announced. “It holds a very special place in my heart.”
Visit Ticket Club to find tickets to see Barry Manilow on Broadway this year
