Tyler Perry and other stars buy out performances of “Ain’t No Mo” to try and save the Broadway show

Hollywood stars have chipped in to assist a brand new Broadway present that was set to shut as a result of low ticket gross sales. Celebrities like Tyler Perry and Shonda Rhimes purchased out full performances of “Ain’t No Mo” this week in an effort to increase the present’s run. The plan labored — on Thursday, playwright Jordan E. Cooper introduced “Ain’t No Mo” was prolonged by way of December 23.

Cooper, who additionally stars within the present, said earlier this week that he obtained an eviction discover telling him the play needed to shut on December 18. He mentioned whereas the present was acclaimed by critics, it was laborious to promote tickets and “conventional Broadway advertising would not work for this type of present.”

“Ain’t No Mo” premiered at The Public Theater on November 9 after which moved to the Belasco Theater, which holds about 1,000 viewers members. The play’s website says the 90-minute play “dares to ask the incendiary query, ‘What if the U.S. authorities provided Black Individuals one-way aircraft tickets to Africa?'” and “will go away you crying with laughter — and considering by way of the tears.” 

Cooper began began campaigning to avoid wasting his present on Instagram final week, utilizing the hashtag #SaveAINTNOMO. He mentioned the typical ticket worth was $50 to make the present accessible to everybody and requested supporters who might sponsor somebody’s ticket to take action.

“Within the title of artwork, within the title of resistance within the title of we belong right here too, within the title of each storytelling ancestor whoever graced a Broadway stage or was instructed they by no means might, please assist this manufacturing and purchase a ticket and are available have church with us,” he wrote. “Radical Black work belongs on Broadway too.”

At some point after posting his plea for assist, Cooper posted {that a} movie star couple stepped as much as assist in a giant manner — Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith purchased out a whole efficiency.

Quickly, different celebrities have been becoming a member of in. Cooper introduced on Thursday that extra performances have been purchased out by filmmaker Tyler Perry; actress Gabrielle Union and her husband, former NBA star Dwyane Wade; producer and director Shonda Rhimes; and actress Sara Ramierz. 

Different celebrities are supporting the present in several methods: author and actor Lena Waithe hosted a chat after the Dec. 13 efficiency and RuPaul hosted the Dec. 15 efficiency. 

Now — due to the efforts of “some MIGHTY MIGHTY warriors,” as Cooper put it — the present is not going to shut this weekend in spite of everything and has been prolonged to Dec. 23. 

Caitlin O’Kane

Caitlin O’Kane is a digital content material producer protecting trending tales for CBS Information and its excellent news model, The Uplift.