Rocky musical to close on Broadway

Andy Karl plays the title role, while Margo Seibert stars as his love interest Adrian

Rocky The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning film, is to close in August six months after it opened on Broadway.

The musical, co-written by the film's star Sylvester Stallone, met with mixed reviews at its New York debut in March.

"Any grumbling about the musical's shortcomings give way to open-mouthed wonder in its spectacular final 20 minutes," wrote one critic.

It will close on 17 August after playing 28 previews and 188 regular performances.

The announcement of its closure comes just one day after the decision to close Broadway musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, which features songs by the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

Sylvester Stallone and boxers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko co-produced the musical

Set in 1975 Philadelphia, Rocky follows an amateur boxer who gets a surprise shot at the heavyweight championship.

The musical originally premiered in Hamburg, Germany, in November 2012, where it was generally well-received by critics.

Entertainment Weekly's Thom Geier called it "a technical knockout" and Variety's Marilyn Stasio called it "a brilliant piece of staging" when in opened at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre.

But the music - written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens - was deemed "non-descript" and "inessential".

Psycho

It has also been announced that the stage adaptation of American Psycho - also based on a cult Hollywood film - will open off-Broadway next year.

It follows its premiere in London's West End last year, with Doctor Who star Matt Smith in the title role.

The musical, adapted from Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 novel, will open at the Second Stage theatre next March. No casting has been announced.

A TV sequel to the film is currently in development.