Broadway's 'The Great Comet' to close on Sept. 3 after casting firestorm

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The producers of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 posted a closing notice for the Broadway show Tuesday.

"@GreatCometBway will play its final performance on 9/3. Raise a glass w. us in 19th Century Russia one final time," the show's Twitter account said.

Ticket sales for the musical dropped after Josh Groban left last month and Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan took over the role of Pierre.

Broadway legend Mandy Patinkin was asked to join the production in an effort to boost attendance, but his casting was met with a backlash by many social media users and members of the theater community who objected to the fact that Patinkin, who is white, would replace Onaodowan, who is African American.

Patinkin backed out of the show and the producers apologized for the controversy, insisting they were only trying to entice audiences with a better known star.

Onaodowan will perform his final show on Aug. 13.

Playbill.com said stand-in Scott Stangland will play Pierre Aug. 15-20 and the show's creator Dave Malloy will finish out the run after that.

.@GreatCometBway will play its final performance on 9/3. Raise a glass w. us in 19th Century Russia one final time. https://t.co/tfXB5B0f0H pic.twitter.com/o90a9ztIQ7

- The Great Comet (@GreatCometBway) August 8, 2017