Ain't No Mo' by Jordan E. Cooper is announcing its departure date faster than anticipated. The show will close December 18, a little over two weeks after its December 1 opening night.
When it closes, the show will have played 22 preview performances and 21 regular performances. The closure is sudden considering the show’s positive reviews.
The reason seems to be low ticket sales, according to an Instagram post from Cooper, which said, in part: “Ain’t No Mo’ needs your help. It’s a new original play that’s Black AF, which are things that make it hard to sell on Broadway. Now they’ve posted an eviction notice.” Then he added, “But thank God Black people are immune to eviction notice.” He then included the hashtag #saveAintNoMo and encouraged people to buy tickets to the show, saying “We’ve worked hard to make it accessible with an average ticket price of $50.”
The closure of Ain’t No Mo’ points to the tough climate for new work on Broadway. K-POP also recently announced a sudden closure, a little over two weeks after opening night. That show also has a hashtag #saveKPOPbroadway.
In a statement, Ain't No Mo’s lead producer Lee Daniels said: “When I first saw Ain’t No Mo’, it shook me to my core. I know firsthand how this world - and industry - doesn’t always embrace our stories and I vowed to do everything I could to bring Jordan’s riveting play written in his distinct voice and perspective to Broadway. It was my intention to make history with this play. I’m proud to say we did. Jordan E. Cooper is now the youngest Black American playwright in Broadway history with Ain’t No Mo’. I couldn’t be more proud of our magnificent cast and crew. This is not the end.”
Ain’t No Mo’ is a play that posits, in series of comedy sketches: “What happens if the American government offered African Americans a one-way ticket back to Africa?”
The show is directed by Stevie Walker-Webb. The cast of the world premiere is made up of Cooper, who plays Peaches, as well as Crystal Lucas-Perry, Fedna Jacquet, Marchánt Davis, Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Shannon Matesky, Nik Alexander, Jasminn Johnson, Michael Rishawn, Kedren Spencer, Brennie Tellu, and Emma Van Lare.
The creative team includes lighting designer Adam Honoré, scenic designer Scott Pask, costume designer Emilio Sosa, co-sound designers Jonathan Deans and Taylor Williams, and wig designer Mia M. Neal.
See Inside the Production Below:
Marchant Davis and company of Ain't No Mo'
Crystal Lucas-Perry in Ain't No Mo'
Fedna Jacquet, Shannon Matesky, Marchant Davis, Crystal Lucas Perry, and Ebony Marshall Oliver in Ain't No Mo'
Shannon Matesky and Crystal Lucas Perry in Ain't No Mo'
Jordan E. Cooper in Ain't No Mo'
Cystal Lucas Perry and Ebony Marshall Oliver in Ain't No Mo'
