Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth shared a passionate kiss with her husband, guitarist Josh Bryant, at the closing night party for her musical The Queen of Versailles, held at The Palm in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday. The bittersweet celebration followed the show's premature closure due to financial struggles.
A Costly Broadway Venture Ends Early
The production, in which Chenoweth both produced and starred, closed a full two weeks earlier than originally scheduled. According to the New York Times, the musical failed to recoup its substantial $22.5 million budget for investors. This financial shortfall resulted in 150 people losing their jobs.
On stage at the St. James Theatre during the final performance, the 57-year-old Tony Award winner addressed the audience. "I just want to thank you for choosing to come to something that's new. We took a big swing and we are so proud of where we landed," Chenoweth said. She emotionally added, "This will be a very, very hard one to say goodbye to."
Personal Life and Public Controversy
The closing night highlighted Chenoweth's personal life, notably her relationship with husband Josh Bryant, 43. The couple, who have been married for two years, met in 2016 when Chenoweth hired his band, Backroad Anthem, for her niece's wedding. She has previously described him as her "rock" who supported her through recent controversies.
Those controversies stemmed from Chenoweth's public mourning of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10. Kirk was a known opponent of gay rights, and Chenoweth's comments left many of her LGBTQAI+ fans feeling abandoned. At the time, the self-described "non-judgmental, liberal Christian" wrote on social media, "I'm. So. Upset... I know where he is now. Heaven."
When questioned by The Hollywood Reporter in November about the backlash, Chenoweth stated, "It nearly broke me, and that's all I'm going to say." She also confirmed she voted for Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.
The Show's Legacy and Cast Reaction
The Queen of Versailles was a stage adaptation of a 2012 documentary, satirising the excesses of a socialite's quest for a mega-mansion. The production, in development since 2020, featured music by Stephen Schwartz and co-starred Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham.
Cast member Drew Elhamalawy reflected on the show's reception on Instagram, noting a painful irony. "Let's talk about the discourse... which, hilariously and depressingly, ended up mirroring the exact things our show was critiquing," he wrote, referencing the online commentary following the closure announcement.
Despite the show's end, Chenoweth's career continues. NBC will re-air her mockumentary sitcom Stumble from January 5, and she has recently signed on to star in a new church choir sitcom pilot for the network.
