Broadway's The Heart of Rock and Roll Sets a June Closing

Broadway's The Heart of Rock and Roll will play its final performance at the James Earl Jones Theatre June 23. As of the final performance, the Huey Lewis jukebox musical will have played 24 previews and 72 performances.

Lead producer Hunter Arnold hints at the possibility of a national tour for the title in a statement released with news of the closing. "We were honored to have an amazing cast and crew who brought their immense enthusiasm, commitment, and talent to each and every performance," the statement reads. "With our original cast album just released and talks underway for a national tour and international productions, the musical will continue to delight audiences for years to come."

The musical opened at the Jones April 22 (read the reviews here), but struggled at the box office and was left empty-handed when 2024 Tony Award nominations were announced shortly after opening.

The show features a book by Jonathan A. Abrams and a score of Huey Lewis hits, including “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” “Hip to be Square,” “Power of Love,” “Do You Believe in Love?,” “If This Is It,” “Doing It All for My Baby,” “Stuck with You,” "I Want a New Drug,” “It’s Alright,” and “Heart and Soul.”

The musical follows Bobby, a Chicagoan whose failed band leads to him returning to corporate America. While working, he meets his boss, Cassandra, who has also traded in her personal life for a professional one. Together, the two realize their dreams when Bobby gets another shot at stardom and Cassandra is up for the CEO job.

The cast is led by Corey Cott (Newsies) and McKenzie Kurtz (Wicked) starring as Bobby and Cassandra, respectively, with Josh Breckenridge (Come From Away) as Wyatt, F. Michael Haynie (Wicked) as Glenn, Zoe Jensen (Six) as Paige, Tamika Lawrence (Caroline or Change) as Roz, Raymond J. Lee (Sweeney Todd) as JJ, John-Michael Lyles (A Strange Loop) as Eli, Orville Mendoza (Swept Away) as Fjord, Billy Harrigan Tighe (Pippin) as Tucker, and John Dossett (Wicked) as Stone.

The ensemble features Mike Baerga, Tommy Bracco, TyNia René Brandon, Olivia Cece, Taylor Marie Daniel, Autumn Gazzardi, Lindsay Joan, Ross Lekites, Robin Masella, Michael Olaribigbe, Kevin Pariseau, and Robert Pendilla. Joe Moeller, Jennifer Noble, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard, and Leah Read round out the company as swings.

With a story by Tyler Mitchell and Abrams, the production is directed by Gordon Greenberg, who has been attached for the entirety of the musical's public development. Music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations are by Brian Usifer with choreography by Lorin Latarro.

The production also features music direction by Will Van Dyke, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Jen Caprio, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by John Shivers, casting by Tara Rubin Casting's Peter Van Dam, and hair, wig, and makeup design by Nikiya Mathis. Justin Scribner serves as production stage manager.

Tyler Mitchell, Hunter Arnold, and Kayla Greenspan lead the producing team, alongside co-producers Chuck Schwab, Curt Cronin, John Joseph, Brad Freeman, Whitney Kiely Moehle, Nederlander Presentations, Stephens Brothers Productions, Gary & Marcia Nelson, Michael Wilsey Family, Mickey Gooch, Jr., HLX Invest Co, Dagley Pottruck Productions, Primary Wave Music, Ken Siebel, Badlamp Productions, and Will Meldman.