Australian singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte has spoken of her heartbreak after the Sydney season of Waitress was cancelled. The 50-year-old addressed the abrupt cancellation in a video message to fans on Tuesday, two days after producers announced the Broadway musical would no longer tour to Sydney.
Emotional Video Message
“It’s taken me a few days to process that our show, Waitress, will not be coming to Sydney,” she said. “My heart is hurting so much for this industry of ours across the board. It’s not just musical theatre, it’s theatre, it’s festivals, it’s shows of any kind. The arts is dying in this country and that hurts my heart beyond anything.”
Bassingthwaighte said it was “devastating” that the work and dedication of everyone involved in the production had come to an end “so abruptly”. “The amount of effort and time and love that people have put into these careers, their passion, their dedication, it only spreads to an audience and it gives humanity reasons to live,” she said.
Call to Support Melbourne Season
Despite her disappointment, Bassingthwaighte urged people to support the production during its final weeks in Melbourne, while acknowledging the financial pressures many Australians were facing. “If you do have the time and the money — and I know right in this current climate, it’s almost impossible — come and see this beautiful show. You won’t be disappointed. The audience reaction has been phenomenal,” she said.
Bassingthwaighte also pointed to a string of recent theatre closures. “It’s just such a hard time,” she said. “But I want to say to everyone — hold your head high, we’ll always rise above it. It just takes time. Reach out to those that you know in the industry because they need your love and support right now.”
Producers Confirm Cancellation
Crossroads Live Australia chief executive John Frost confirmed on Sunday that the Broadway musical would finish its Melbourne season on July 19 and would no longer tour to Sydney in August as planned. “This decision was not made lightly,” he said in a statement. “While we remain incredibly proud of the production and grateful for the dedication and passion of everyone involved, the challenging economic conditions currently facing audiences have had a significant impact on the live entertainment industry.”
Broader Industry Woes
The announcement came just weeks after Beetlejuice cancelled the remainder of its Australian tour and ended its Brisbane season three weeks early. Back to the Future: The Musical also concluded its Australian run in Sydney in January.
