Why a Fabulous Broadway Show Can Fill Its Seats and Still Close

Mr. Kumar is a former theater critic for The Washington Post.

“Cats: The Jellicle Ball” is — or, now, was — like nothing else on Broadway: vibrant and Black and queer and a lot of fun. In its four-month run, the production had no trouble filling seats: Capacity rarely dipped below 90 percent. Theatergoers clacked yellow “Jellicle”-branded hand fans, purchased at the merch table, as a rotating roster of celebrity guest judges, including Angela Bassett and Anna Wintour, presided over the contest for one of the titular strays to be reborn.

But there just weren’t enough ticket buyers who were willing (or, possibly, able) to pay full price. It closes this weekend.

That’s a shame. The show, which reimagines Andrew Lloyd........

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