R&B star Usher’s withdrawal from hit Broadway musical “Chicago” is costing the show an estimated $400,000 in refunds, reports the New York Post.

Usher has been playing the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical since Aug. 22 but hasn’t appeared on stage since last Friday. He is scheduled to make his final curtain call this Saturday.

The singer-actor has been afflicted with strep throat for the past week. When he first canceled last Friday night, hundreds of disappointed fans demanded their money back, and the musical was performed by the rest of the cast to a half-empty Ambassador Theatre.

Since then, ticketholders have been lining up at the theatre’s box office every day for refunds. They are entitled to a refund or an exchange for another date anytime a special star is out of a show.

“[Usher] was very sick last week, and it’s just gotten worse,” producer Barry Weissler told The Post. “Unfortunately, he won’t be coming back.”

On the whole, however, Usher’s eight-week gig in “Chicago” has been an immense success. He was able to draw sold-out shows almost nightly, with the box-office grossing about $800,000 a week.

“We just hope Usher gets healthy soon,” added Weissler. “He was one of the best Billy Flynns we’ve ever had.”






Related Stories: