Kristin Chenoweth’s Queen of Versailles musical to close early after mixed reviews

Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway musical The Queen of Versailles will close Jan. 4 after facing critical reviews

Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway musical, The Queen of Versailles, will close earlier than originally planned, with its final performance set for January 4, 2026.

The show began previews on October 8 and officially opened just two weeks ago. Ticketing had listed performances through March 29, but a combination of mixed and critical reviews contributed to the decision to end the run early.

The production, adapted from the 2012 documentary of the same name, tells the story of a Florida couple’s attempt to build the country’s most extravagant home in 2008 before the financial crisis struck.

The creative team behind the musical included composer Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the score for Wicked, playwright Lindsey Ferrentino, and Tony-winning director Michael Arden. The New York Times reported that the musical had a production cost of approximately $22.5 million.

Critical reception was largely mixed, with some reviewers highlighting issues with the show’s tone and narrative. Entertainment Weekly’s Dalton Ross described the musical as struggling with “tonal whiplash,” noting that it attempts campy comedy, social commentary, family drama, and French farce, “and does none of them particularly well.”

Other outlets labelled the show “unwieldy” and “terrible.” However, The New York Times offered a positive take, praising the musical as “an entertaining biomusical with a hummable score” and calling Chenoweth “winsome” and “funny.”

Chenoweth, a Tony winner for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in 1999, has previously been nominated for her performances in Wicked and On the Twentieth Century.

Despite The Queen of Versailles closing early, fans and industry observers may still see the production during its remaining performances before it concludes in early January.