“The fairy tale is about to end.” In a post on Instagram, the production announces the end of the musical inspired by the titles of Britney Spears, after only 123 performances. Once Upon a One More Time revisited Disney tales in a feminist version against the backdrop of the singer’s best-known hits. The show, played on Broadway, did not meet with the expected success.
A cold shower for the producers, who hoped for much more than three short months on the boards. During the second week of August, the show, which started in June, did not fill half the theater.
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to this dream team who continue to share our love for this show,” explained the two producers, James L. Nederlander and Hunter Arnold in a press release. Despite this first failure, the producers hope to export the show abroad.
Announced just before the Covid pandemic hit in 2019, the show was produced by a Washington D.C.-based theater company, the Shakespeare Theater Company. Its title, Once upon a One More Time, was directly inspired by one of the titles that made Britney Spears famous in 1998, Baby One More Time. In a press release, the pop star had revealed to be very “excited” by this project, in which she did not take part. “It takes place in a magical world with characters I grew up with and love,” the singer enthused.