Broadway Loses Faith With Amazing Grace; New Musical Sets Closing Date

After struggling with low grosses for some time, the sweet sound of Josh Young, Erin Mackey, Tony winner Chuck Cooper and more will no longer be heard in Amazing Grace on Broadway. Directed by Gabriel Barre and featuring music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Smith and Arthur Giron, the production will shutter at the Nederlander Theatre on October 25. The new musical began previews on June 25 and officially opened on July 16. At time of closing, the show will have played 24 previews and 114 regular performances.

Amazing Grace is based on the true story behind the beloved song. A tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, the show follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change that gave birth to the abolitionist movement. John Newton (Young), a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father—a slave trader—and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart (Mackey).

The cast also includes Tom Hewitt, Chris Hoch, Harriett D. Foy, Laiona Michelle, Rachael Ferrera and Elizabeth Ward Land.

Amazing Grace played a pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago in fall 2014. A national tour of the production is being planned; further details will be announced later.

Broadway.com customers with tickets to canceled performances will be contacted with information on refunds or exchanges.