How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway: Show Is Now Closed

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How to Dance in Ohio Summary

  • Show Status: Closed
  • Genre: Musical
  • How to Dance in Ohio is 2 hours 10 minutes long, including an intermission of 15 minutes
  • 8 Shows per week
  • Previews Began: November 15, 2023
  • Show Opened : December 10, 2023
  • Show Closed: February 11, 2024

In a group counseling center in Columbus, Ohio, seven autistic young adults are preparing for a spring formal dance, but their biggest fears make the challenge appear insurmountable.

What's How to Dance in Ohio Like?

Set at a youth counseling center in Columbus, How to Dance in Ohio follows seven autistic young adults as they come of age and try to find their way in the world.

Out of a desperate attempt to help them develop, the counseling group lead pushes them into the challenge of attending their Spring formal dance, but the challenges may not just be there own.

Is How to Dance in Ohio Good for Kids?

This show is appropriate for children over the age of 14 years old.

How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway Background

2015 HBO Documentary

How to Dance in Ohio is a heart-filled new musical based on the Peabody Award-winning HBO documentary of the same name. The show explores what it means to belong, the courage it takes to put yourself out in the world, and the human need to connect.

2022 Run In Syracuse

The musical had a previous run in 2022 at the Syracuse Stage in central New York, where it received critical acclaim before being closed due to illness.

The Hal Prince Connection

The famed director and producer Hal Prince was initially attached to the project; before he died in 2019.

Show Sets Closing Date

How to Dance in Ohio is closing February 11, 2024. The new neuro-divergent coming-of-age musical opened at the Belasco Theatre December 10 2023 after beginning previews November 15, 2023. At the time of closing, the musical will have played 27 previews and 72 regular performances. This show should have had a better run than this, as the show was uplifting and entertaining.

Why Did How to Dance in Ohio Close on Broadway?

The show closed due to terrible ticket sales and some awful marketing strategies. The show just could not seem to get a fan-following and ended up finding itself in the bottom two of all Broadway shows in terms of gross ticket sales. This is a very rough financial place to be in, especially when all Broadway (non-musical) plays were able to beat it. Traditionally, plays are the lowest revenue generators on Broadway and its shameful to come in last, with such a good show.

Sickness In The Cast Led To Show Cancellations

It also did not help that COVID-19 in the cast lead to some show cancellations that also did not help its bottom line. The show unfairly received some negative feedback over this, even though such situations are out of their hands.

Poor Ticket Sales and Bad Marketing

The show did not even break even in the busiest week of the year and only cracked $536,440 in the holiday week of 12/31/23, which is about $250,000 below its weekly operating cost. The amount of tourists in New York City during the Christmas holiday break tends to floats all boats on Broadway (even the bad ones), and the failure of this show at 84% of capacity and an average of $81.13 average ticket price, doomed the show.

Show Failed To Sell Tickets

The show should have been at 100% capacity and over $120 average ticket price to just break even. Investors took a bath on this show and are not likely to try a show like this again on Broadway. The marketing for this failed to engage customers and drive anyone to to the show.

Show Made Losses For Investors

It is estimated that this show lost $1.8 Million in investment money, although these figures are not made public, a quick analysis of total Broadway grosses, length of play, theatre rental cost, the number of actors, amount of scenery and overall union costs and payoffs leads us to that number.

You won't find people like Playbill's Meg Masseron and Margaret Hall or BroadwayNews's Ruthie Feirberg giving you this kind of financial breakdown to the reasons a show failed, because they are not real journalists - they just love their fluff news! Cat stuck up a tree? contact Ruthie Feirberg!

Theatre Information

Belasco Theatre

111 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10019
Seats: 813
Entrance: 44th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenues
Theatre Information

Belasco Theatre Seating Chart

How to Dance in Ohio Marquee

How to Dance in Ohio Marquee

Cast Members

Remy
Desmond Edwards
Caroline
Amelia Fei
Marideth
Madison Kopec
Drew
Liam Pearce
Mel
Imani Russell
Tommy
Conor Tague
Hessica
Ashley Wool
Johanna
Darlesia Cearcy
Kurt
Carlos L. Encinias
Michael
Nick Gaswirth
Dr Amigo
Caesar Samayoa
Terry
Haven Burton

Past Cast Members

Terry
Melina Kalomas
Dr Amigo
Martín Solá

Producers

P3 Productions

Ben Holtzman

Sammy Lopez

Fiona Howe Rudin

Abigail Disney

John Tartaglia

Ludacris

Paula Abdul

Production Credits

Director
Sammi Cannold
Music Director
Lily Ling
Choreographer
Mayte Natalio

Creative Team

BOOK & LYRICS
REBEKAH GREER MELOCIK
MUSIC
JACOB YANDURA