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"Our increasingly early closing and family unfriendly licensing laws threaten to make us look dour compared to other European cities."

He mentioned a good friend, Jordan E. Cooper, the playwright and star of “Ain’t No Mo’,” and the early closing last fall of that show, which had a mostly Black creative team.

Their task at building community is complicated by their location, the former Rappahannock Oyster Bar inside Union Market, a food hall with early closing hours and a demonstrated willingness to give loyal vendors the boot.

Last week was the best week the industry has seen since late 2019, but the riches are not evenly distributed: “Ohio State Murders” follows “Walking With Ghosts,” “KPOP,” “Ain’t No Mo’” and “Almost Famous” in announcing an unexpectedly early closing this season.

Box office numbers had been treacherous for new works even before the holidays — early closing notices were posted for shows like “Almost Famous,” “KPOP,” “A Strange Loop” and “Ain’t No Mo’.”