Caviar dreams are not like that.
Kristin Chenoweth’s return to Broadway, The Queen of Versailles, announced last week that it will close on January 4, 2026, after just 65 regular performances and 32 preview performances. The musical, which reportedly cost $22.5 million to produce, did well, albeit modestly, at the box office, but was largely panned by critics.
Chenoweth, 57, seems to be taking the news of her early exit from the show in stride.
“I want to say that I’m so proud of this new art that we’ve created, but it’s getting harder and harder to make that happen,” the Tony Award winner said in an Instagram video posted on Nov. 26. “I think of all the shows that have come and gone over the last few seasons that not everyone got to see. I love Broadway and I love audiences and the live art form.”
Based on the 2012 documentary, The Queen of Versailles follows socialite Jackie Siegel (Chenoweth) and her timeshare mogul husband David (F. Murray Abraham) as they attempt to build America’s largest home. But the 2008 stock market crash derailed their plans, and the Orlando-based couple suffered a personal tragedy in 2015 when their teenage daughter Victoria (Nina White) died.
“The Queen of Versailles” has come under fire from critics and theater fans for its focus on the Siegel family, longtime Republicans and friends of President Donald Trump. The show was described as “sickeningly tone-deaf” by The Daily Beast and “a MAGA musical nightmare” by The Wrap. The subject has sparked debate in the famously inclusive Broadway community, which includes countless people of color and LGBTQ+ members directly affected by President Trump’s policies.
Chenoweth also faced backlash in September for an Instagram comment in which she expressed “heartbreak” over the shooting death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
The “Wicked” actress ended her recent video with a message urging audiences to watch Broadway shows, which have struggled to bounce back since COVID-19. According to the New York Times, 46 new musicals have opened since the pandemic, but only three have turned a profit.
Producers are also reducing their opportunities for new releases. “The Queen of Versailles” was one of only two original musicals to open on Broadway this fall, along with the popular romantic comedy “Two Strangers.”
Chenoweth added, “Broadway is the best,” and urged people to support the arts. “There is an art form called live performance, and there is nothing better than sharing that experience with an audience.”
