Biggest flops

[joanlegorreta]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:13pm

I was wondering: Which are the biggest flops in history of musicals? And which of these could have a revival and would be better, in your opinion?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:16pm

Drat, the Cat would be amazing as a revival if they went with the camp factor and it had some star power.

Actually, I was talking to someone about it and when I mentioned the song "She Touched Me," my friend recognized it as a Babs song (since she was the composer's wife)....

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:18pm

dance of the vampires
chitty chitty bang bang

[Buscee]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:20pm

FRANKENSTEIN

THE NEWS

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:22pm

"Into the Light" has to be up there. It was the most expensive musical ever produced at the time ($8 million dollars, I believe, and that was in 1986). It ran for 13 previews and 6 performances.

I actually saw it. It was a musical that revolved around the Shroud of Turin. Most of the cost was due to laser lighting effects that had "never been done before." It starred Dean Jones, who was damn good in it.

I thought the show was fascinating and well done.

EDIT: I think if it were revived today it would do much better and people would take to it well... Mostly due to our fascination with Da Vinci Code and other similar subjects being "hot" right now. I remember literally being on the edge of my seat during the show. It was very intense.

I assume you mean biggest financial disaster when you say "flop," since hits and flops are box office lingo.

Updated On: 11/4/05 at 02:22 PM

[joanlegorreta]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:24pm

Hey! I loooove "She touched me"... Actually HE touched me performed by Heather Headley, it's a beautiful song!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:25pm

Well, it was originally recorded by Babs as "He Touched Me"

But yeah, good stuff!

DRAT, the CAT: THE MUSICAL REVIVAL
Featuring the hit song "He Touched Me" Updated On: 11/4/05 at 02:25 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:26pm

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang definitely isn't one of the biggest flops. It's going to run for 8 months, that's not that bad when compared with all other shows opening on Broadway.

But Lennon is probably a new edition.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:28pm

Carrie lost close to 8 million in '88. Although it is known as a huge flop, others, I believe have surpassed it's floppiness.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:29pm

Well, doodle - are you talking about financially? And are you taking into account inflation?

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:31pm

DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES has the potential to be even more amazing than i already think it is. if it was revived and altered a bit. wow. i can't even think about how awesome it would be.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:33pm

Remember flop is a financial term, not an artistic one (and the length of the run has NOTHING to do with anything).

CHITTY will close having lost its entire $15 million investment, making it one of the biggest flops in the history of Broadway.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:34pm

How do you think "Into the Light" would translate in today's dollars (from 1986 dollars)? $8 million, total loss.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:35pm

just stating that when it closed it lost $8 million, but that others likely lost more (taking inflation into account)...but that it is still considered the standard to hold flops up to.
"Not Since Carrie"
But flops have a few criteria, financial, artisitic, etc.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:39pm

Actually, Margo is right. "Hits" and "flops" are purely money/financial terms.

[justme2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:43pm

Since Flop is strictly a financial term, then wouldn't just about every musical opening and closing within the last 5 years or so (or even longer) be considered flops?

Isn't it nearly impossible for musicals to re-coup?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:45pm

Well, you could be a critical flop - those are the ones that I like...for whatever reason.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:45pm

It is true...the term flop is financial.

This is discussed alot here, but what would be the biggest flop with inflation considered?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:51pm

*Sorry, with inflation, Carrie lost over 12 million dollars.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:54pm

Sounds like "Chitty" wins (so far).

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:55pm

Here's Where We Belong.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:55pm

Well, considering Wicked recouped already, and IML did not even cost that much, Chitty wins!

[The8re phan]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 2:56pm

I knew a thread on flops would bring out Margo (I love ya, gal!!!)

Justme2 - - There are quite a few shows in the last 5 years that have indeed re-couped --- Avenue Q, Hairspray, The Lion King, the Producers, Wicked to name just a few. And last I checked, they are still pulling in beacoup bucks.

Updated On: 11/4/05 at 02:56 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 3:03pm

Actually, I think Carrie (with its 12 mil loss) may remain the top...considering that Chitty is such a success on the West End...plus the movie, CD, and other paraphonalia - considering the prodcuers are the same - it would seem OVERALL - Chitty lost less than 15.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 3:03pm

It definitely would cost that much (which is sick to think about)but havent others lost that much in recent years?

Speaking of older flops, what did Shogun lose? That was expensive!