Madonna was originally scheduled to kick off her highly anticipated Madame X tour in September 2019. However, the pop icon ended up postponing the start of the tour due to production delays. This led many fans to wonder – did Madonna postpone her entire tour, or just the initial dates?
What dates were postponed?
Madonna announced in May 2019 that the first few dates of the Madame X tour would be postponed. The opening dates in New York City that were delayed included September 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 22. These shows were supposed to take place at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House.
In addition to the New York shows, opening dates in other cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, Lisbon, London, and Paris were also postponed to later dates in 2019 and 2020.
Why were the tour dates postponed?
In an official statement, Madonna cited production delays as the reason for pushing back the Madame X tour start:
“Madame X is a perfectionist and wants to give you the most unique, magical, and musical experience,” the statement read. “She underestimated the amount of time it would take to bring this kind of intimate theatrical experience to you and wants it to be perfect!!! Thank you so much for your understanding.”
Specifically, the delays were related to the elaborate stage design and choreography needed for the intimate, theater-centric tour. The production involves complex set changes, costume changes, and choreography that simply needed more time to perfect.
Were any dates outright canceled?
While the initial Madame X tour dates faced postponements, Madonna did not outright cancel any scheduled concerts other than the very first September 12 date in New York.
All of the rescheduled shows from September and October 2019 were pushed back to later dates rather than canceled. Other stops on the tour like Lisbon, London, and Paris that were scheduled for early 2020 also went ahead as planned.
What were the rescheduled tour dates?
Here are the new tour dates after the initial postponements:
Original Date | Location | Rescheduled Date |
---|---|---|
September 12, 2019 | New York City | Canceled |
September 14, 2019 | New York City | October 7, 2019 |
September 15, 2019 | New York City | October 8, 2019 |
September 17, 2019 | New York City | October 10, 2019 |
September 19, 2019 | New York City | October 11, 2019 |
September 21, 2019 | New York City | October 13, 2019 |
September 22, 2019 | New York City | October 14, 2019 |
September 24, 2019 | Chicago | October 15, 2019 |
September 28, 2019 | Boston | October 17, 2019 |
October 1, 2019 | Philadelphia | October 18, 2019 |
October 3, 2019 | Miami | October 20, 2019 |
October 7, 2019 | Los Angeles | October 21, 2019 |
As seen in the table, the postponed September and October 2019 dates were rescheduled to new October 2019 dates, with most shows taking place in New York and then moving through other cities like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami before wrapping up in Los Angeles in late October.
European Leg
The European leg of the tour that was planned for early 2020, including major stops like Lisbon, London, and Paris, went ahead as originally scheduled without any postponements.
Did the delays impact the full Madame X tour?
While the initial September and October 2019 North American dates faced delays, Madonna was able to resume the tour on the rescheduled dates without major issues.
The Madame X tour officially kicked off in New York on September 17, 2019 and completed its North American run in late 2019 and early 2020. It then continued on its European leg in January 2020 and ran through March 2020 before the final dates were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
So despite the early postponements, the delays did not largely impact the full scope of the Madame X tour. Madonna was able to complete a significant run of the tour across North America and Europe before the global health crisis intervened.
How did fans react to the delays?
Understandably, fans were disappointed when the highly anticipated tour dates were first postponed. Many had booked travel and accommodations for the September shows that then had to be changed.
However, Madonna’s supporters expressed understanding about the production challenges and enthusiasm for her to perfect the show. The fan response was largely patient and positive.
Once the tour did officially kick off in October, fans felt it was worth the wait. The intimate Madame X shows won critical acclaim for their innovative theatrical concert experience and Madonna’s performances.
Conclusion
In summary – yes, Madonna did postpone the start of her Madame X tour due to production delays. However, she rescheduled the dates rather than canceling any shows besides the very first one. After the postponements, Madonna successfully embarked on the Madame X tour with its intimate, theater-based concerts. While fans had to wait a bit longer than expected, the tour delivered an innovative experience that was a hit with both critics and the Queen of Pop’s supporters.