*Bad headlines have translated to increased ticket sales for struggling Broadway musical “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.”
After producers attempted to boost sales by recruiting white Broadway veteran Mandy Patinkin to replace its current black lead actor (a move that caused Patinkin to back out before he began, once backlash ensued), box office for the musical has jumped 12% (more than $100,000), according to Variety.
The controversy brought national attention to the production, and may have prompted folks to turn out in support of Okieriete Onaodowan before he exited the show Aug. 13.
As previously reported, the production announced plans to close the show on Sept. 3, which may have also been a factor in getting people to the theater over the weekend before it disappears.
According to one of the show’s creators, advance sales for the coming weeks had been on life support, which was the reason Patinkin was recruited in the first place. Whether the closing notice will help keep numbers elevated remains to be seen.
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