Broadway hits and flops

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Posted: 4/2/08 at 2:11am

I posted this list last fall but it needs an update...so many discussions claim that certain shows were hits or flops...here's the real deal.

Only major shows that got cast albums are listed.



6/3/1931 THE BANDWAGON RCA Victor HIT
5/19/1932 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Brunswick FLOP
10/10/1935 PORGY AND BESS RCA Victor FLOP
10/29/1936 RED HOT AND BLUE Liberty Music Shop HIT
2/9/1939 STARS IN YOUR EYES Liberty Music Shop HIT

10/25/1940 CABIN IN THE SKY Liberty Music Shop HIT
10/30/1940 PANAMA HATTIE Decca HIT
1/23/1941 LADY IN THE DARK RCA Victor HIT
1/22/1942 PORGY AND BESS (Rev) Decca HIT
7/4/1942 THIS IS THE ARMY Decca HIT
3/31/1943 OKLAHOMA! Decca HIT
10/7/1943 ONE TOUCH OF VENUS Decca HIT
11/17/1943 A CONNECTICUT YANKEE (Rev) Decca HIT
12/2/1943 CARMEN JONES Decca HIT
1/28/1944 MEXICAN HAYRIDE Decca HIT
8/21/1944 SONG OF NORWAY Decca HIT
10/5/1944 BLOOMER GIRL Decca HIT
12/27/1944 SING OUT SWEET LAND Decca HIT
1/27/1945 UP IN CENTRAL PARK Decca HIT
4/19/1945 CAROUSEL Decca HIT
10/6/1945 POLONAISE RCA Victor FLOP
10/16/1945 THE RED MIL (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
1/5/1946 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Columbia HIT
2/6/1946 LUTE SONG Decca FLOP
3/30/1946 ST. LOUIS WOMAN Capitol FLOP
4/18/1946 CALL ME MISTER Decca HIT
5/16/1946 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Decca HIT
1/9/1947 STREET SCENE Columbia FLOP
1/10/1947 FINIANÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S RAINBOW Columbia HIT
1/21/1947 SWEETHEARTS (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
3/13/1947 BRIGADOON RCA Victor HIT
10/9/1947 HIGH BUTTON SHOES RCA Victor HIT
10/10/1947 ALLEGRO RCA Victor FLOP
1/29/1948 LOOK MA, IÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??M DANCINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?? Decca HIT
4/30/1947 INSIDE USA RCA Victor HIT
12/30/1948 KISS ME, KATE Columbia HIT
4/7/1949 SOUTH PACIFIC Columbia HIT
7/15/1949 MISS LIBERTY Columbia FLOP
10/30/1949 LOST IN THE STARS Decca FLOP
11/25/1949 TEXAS LIÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??L DARLINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?? Decca FLOP
12/8/1949 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES Columbia HIT

2/2/1950 ARMS AND THE GIRL Decca FLOP
3/15/1950 THE CONSUL Decca HIT
4/24/1950 PETER PAN (Bernstein) Columbia FLOP
10/12/1950 CALL ME MADAM RCA Victor & Decca HIT
11/24/1950 GUYS AND DOLLS Decca HIT
12/21/1950 OUT OF THIS WORLD Columbia FLOP
3/29/1951 THE KING AND I Decca HIT
4/18/1951 MAKE A WISH RCA Victor FLOP
4/19/1951 A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN Columbia FLOP
5/14/1951 FLAHOOLEY Capitol FLOP
6/21/1951 SEVENTEEN RCA Victor FLOP
7/19/1951 TWO ON THE AISLE Decca FLOP
10/8/1951 MUSIC IN THE AIR (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
11/1/1951 TOP BANANA Capitol HIT
11/12/1951 PAINT YOUR WAGON RCA Victor FLOP
1/2/1952 PAL JOEY Capitol HIT
3/21/1952 THREE WISHES FOR JAMIE Capitol FLOP
5/5/1952 OF THEE I SONG (Rev) Capitol FLOP
5/16/1952 NEW FACES OF 1952 RCA Victor HIT
6/25/1952 WISH YOU WERE HERE RCA Victor HIT
12/15/1952 TWOÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S COMPANY RCA Victor FLOP
2/11/1953 HAZEL FLAGG RCA Victor FLOP
2/25/1953 WONDERFUL TOWN Decca HIT
5/7/1953 CAN-CAN Capitol HIT
5/28/1953 ME AND JULIET RCA Victor HIT
12/3/1953 KISMET Columbia HIT
3/5/1954 THE GIRL IN PINK TIGHTS Columbia FLOP
4/8/1954 BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA Capitol FLOP
4/20/1954 THE GOLDEN APPLE RCA Victor FLOP
5/13/1954 THE PAJAMA GAME Columbia HIT
9/30/1954 THE BOY FRIEND RCA Victor HIT
10/11/1954 ON YOUR TOES (Rev) Decca FLOP
10/20/1954 PETER PAN (Styne, Charlop) RCA Victor HIT
11/4/1954 FANNY RCA Victor HIT
12/27/1954 THE SAINT OF BLEEKER STREET RCA Victor FLOP
12/30/1954 HOUSE OF FLOWERS Columbia FLOP
1/27/1955 PLAIN AND FANCY Capitol HIT
2/24/1955 SILK STOCKINGS RCA Victor HIT
4/18/1955 ANKLES AWEIGH Decca FLOP
5/5/1955 DAMN YANKEES! RCA Victor HIT
5/26/1955 SEVENTH HEAVEN Decca FLOP
11/30/1955 PIPE DREAM RCA Victor FLOP
3/15/1956 MY FAIR LADY Columbia HIT
3/22/1956 MR. WONDERFUL Decca FLOP
5/3/1956 THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Columbia HIT
6/14/1956 NEW FACES OF 1956 RCA Victor FLOP
11/15/1956 LIÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??L ABNER Columbia HIT
11/29/1956 BELLS ARE RINGING Columbia HIT
12/1/1956 CANDIDE Columbia FLOP
12/6/1956 HAPPY HUNTING RCA Victor FLOP
5/14/1957 NEW GIRL IN TOWN RCA Victor HIT
8/20/1957 SIMPLY HEAVENLY Columbia FLOP
9/26/1957 WEST SIDE STORY Columbia HIT
10/31/1957 JAMAICA RCA Victor HIT
12/19/1957 THE MUSIC MAN Capitol HIT
2/4/1958 OH, CAPTAIN! Columbia FLOP
4/3/1958 SAY, DARLING RCA Victor FLOP
10/11/1958 GOLDILOCKS Columbia FLOP
12/1/1958 FLOWER DRUM SONG Columbia HIT
12/22/1958 WHOOP-UP MgM FLOP
12/23/1958 A PARTY WITH COMDEN AND GREEN Capitol HIT
2/5/1959 REDHEAD RCA Victor HIT
3/9/1959 JUNO Columbia FLOP
3/19/1959 FIRST IMPRESSIONS Columbia HIT
4/23/1959 DESTRY RIDES AGAIN Decca FLOP
5/12/1959 THE NERVOUS SET Columbia FLOP
5/21/1959 GYPSY Columbia HIT
10/22/1959 TAKE ME ALONG RCA Victor FLOP
11/16/1959 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Columbia HIT
11/23/1959 FIORELLO Capitol HIT
11/25/1959 ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Kapp HIT
12/7/1959 SARATOGA RCA Victor FLOP

3/8/1960 GREENWILLOW RCA Victor FLOP
4/16/1960 BYE BYE BIRDIE Columbia HIT
4/28/1960 CHRISTINE Columbia FLOP
5/23/1960 FINIANÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S RAINBOW (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
9/29/1960 IRMA LA DOUCE Columbia HIT
10/17/1960 TENDERLOIN Capitol FLOP
11/3/1960 THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN Capitol HIT
12/3/1960 CAMELOT Columbia HIT
12/16/1960 WILDCAT RCA Victor FLOP
12/26/1960 DO RE MI RCA Victor FLOP
1/12/1961 SHOW GIRL Roulette HIT
4/3/1961 THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD Columbia FLOP
4/13/1961 CARNIVAL! MgM HIT
5/18/1961 DONNYBROOK Kapp FLOP
10/3/1961 SAIL AWAY Capitol FLOP
10/10/1961 MILK AND HONEY RCA Victor FLOP
10/12/1961 LET IT RIDE RCA Victor FLOP
10/14/1961 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESSÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ RCA Victor HIT
10/23/1961 KWAMINA Capitol FLOP
11/2/1961 KEAN Columbia FLOP
11/18/1961 THE GAY LIFE Capitol FLOP
12/27/1961 SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING Columbia FLOP
1/27/1962 A FAMILY AFFAIR United Artsits FLOP
3/15/1962 NO STRINGS Capitol HIT
3/19/1962 ALL AMERICAN Columbia FLOP
3/22/1962 I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE Columbia FLOP
5/8/1962 A FUNNY THING HAPPENEDÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦FORUM Capitol HIT
5/19/1962 BRAVO GIOVANNI Columbia FLOP
10/3/1962 STOP THE WORLD, I WANT TO GET OFF London HIT
10/20/1962 MR. PRESIDENT Columbia FLOP
11/17/1962 LITTLE ME RCA Victor FLOP
1/6/1963 OLIVER! RCA Victor HIT
3/18/1963 TOVARICH Capitol FLOP
4/23/1963 SHE LOVES ME MgM FLOP
10/3/1963 HEREÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S LOVE Columbia FLOP
10/17/1963 JENNIE RCA Victor FLOP
10/24/1963 110 IN THE SHADE RCA Victor HIT
12/8/1963 THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER Columbia FLOP
1/16/1964 HELLO DOLLY! RCA Victor HIT
2/27/1964 WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN Columbia FLOP
3/26/1964 FUNNY GIRL Capitol HIT
4/4/1964 ANYONE CAN WHISTLE Columbia FLOP
4/17/1964 HIGH SPIRITS Abc FLOP
5/26/1964 FADE OUT-FADE IN Abc FLOP
9/22/1964 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF RCA Victor HIT
10/20/1964 GOLDEN BOY Capitol FLOP
10/27/1964 BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS Capitol FLOP
11/23/1964 BAJOUR Columbia FLOP
12/15/1964 I HAD A BALL Mercury FLOP
2/16/1965 BAKER STREET MgM FLOP
3/18/1965 DO I HEAR A WALTZ? Columbia FLOP
4/25/1965 HALF A SIXPENCE RCA Victor HIT
5/11/1965 FLORA, THE RED MENACE RCA Victor FLOP
5/16/1965 THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINTÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ RCA Victor HIT
10/17/1965 ON A CLEAR DAYÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ RCA Victor FLOP
11/13/1965 SKYSCRAPER Capitol FLOP
11/22/1965 MAN OF LA MANCHA Kapp HIT
11/29/1965 ANYA United Artists FLOP
1/29/1966 SWEET CHARITY Columbia HIT
3/7/1966 WAIT A MINIM! London HIT
3/29/1966 ITÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S A BIRD! ITÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S Ã?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ SUPERMAN Columbia FLOP
5/24/1966 MAME Columbia HIT
9/21/1966 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
10/18/1966 THE APPLE TREE Columbia FLOP
11/20/1966 CABARET Columbia HIT
11/26/1966 WALKING HAPPY Capitol FLOP
12/5/1966 I DO! I DO! RCA Victor HIT
4/11/1967 ILLYA DARLING United Artists FLOP
4/26/1967 HALLELUJAH, BABY! Columbia FLOP
10/23/1967 HENRY, SWEET HENRY Abc FLOP
12/7/1967 HOW NOW DOW JONES RCA Victor FLOP
1/18/1968 THE HAPPY TIME RCA Victor FLOP
1/27/1968 DARLING OF THE DAY RCA Victor FLOP
2/4/1968 GOLDEN RAINBOW Calendar FLOP
4/10/1968 GEORGE M! Columbia FLOP
4/29/1968 HAIR RCA Victor HIT
5/2/1968 NEW FACES OF 1968 Warner Bros FLOP
10/23/1968 MAGGIE FLYNN RCA Victor FLOP
11/17/1968 ZORBA Capitol FLOP
12/1/1968 PROMISES PROMISES United Artists HIT
1/22/1969 CELEBRATION Capitol FLOP
2/3/1969 CANTERBURY TALES Capitol FLOP
2/6/1969 DEAR WORLD Columbia FLOP
3/16/1969 1776 (SEVENTEEN SEVENTY SIX) Columbia HIT
10/23/1969 JIMMY RCA Victor FLOP
12/18/1969 COCO Paramount FLOP

3/15/1970 PURLIE Ampex FLOP
3/26/1970 MINNIEÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S BOYS Project 3 FLOP
3/30/1970 APPLAUSE Abc HIT
4/8/1970 CRY FOR US ALL Project 3 FLOP
4/14/1970 THE BOY FRIEND (Rev) Decca FLOP
4/26/1970 COMPANY Columbia HIT
10/19/1970 THE ROTHSCHILDS Columbia FLOP
11/10/1970 TWO BY TWO Columbia FLOP
12/18/1970 THE ME NOBODY KNOWS Atlantic HIT
1/19/1971 NO NO NANETTE (Rev) Columbia HIT
4/4/1971 FOLLIES Capitol FLOP
4/15/1970 70, GIRLS, 70 Columbia FLOP
5/5/1971 EARL OF RUSTON Capitol FLOP
6/1/1971 YOUÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??RE A GOOD MAN CH. BROWN MgM FLOP
10/12/1971 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Decca HIT
10/20/1971 AINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??T SUPPOSED TO DIEÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ A&m FLOP
10/21/1971 TO LIVE ANOTEHR SUMMERÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ Buddah FLOP
12/1/1971 TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Abc HIT
12/19/1971 INNER CITY RCA Victor FLOP
2/14/1972 GREASE MgM HIT
4/9/1972 SUGAR United Artists HIT
4/19/1972 DONÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??T BOTHER ME, I CANÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??T COPE Polydor HIT
10/9/1972 DUDE Kilmarnock FLOP
10/19/1972 MOTHER EARTH Environmental FLOP
10/22/1972 PIPPIN Motown HIT
2/25/1973 A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Columbia HIT
3/13/1973 IRENE (Rev) Columbia FLOP
3/18/1973 SEESAW Buddah FLOP
5/13/1973 CYRANO A&m FLOP
10/18/1973 RAISIN Columbia FLOP
11/13/1973 GIGI RCA Victor FLOP
1/27/1974 LORELEI MgM FLOP
3/5/1974 CANDIDE (Rev) Columbia FLOP
3/6/1974 OVER HERE! Columbia FLOP
5/28/1974 THE MAGIC SHOW Bell HIT
9/23/1974 GYPSY (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
10/6/1974 MACK AND MABEL ABC FLOP
1/5/1975 THE WIZ Atlantic HIT
1/7/1975 SHENANDOAH RCA Red Seal HIT
3/3/1975 GOODTIME CHARLEY RCA Red Seal FLOP
6/1/1975 CHICAGO Arista HIT
6/25/1975 A CHORUS LINE Columbia HIT
10/21/1975 TREEMONISHA Dgg FLOP
12/21/1975 VERY GOOD EDDIE Drg HIT
1/11/1976 PACIFIC OVERTURES RCA Red Seal FLOP
3/2/1976 BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR H&L HIT
3/25/1976 MY FAIR LADY (Rev) Columbia FLOP
4/25/1976 REX RCA Red Seal FLOP
4/27/1976 SO LONG 174th STREET Original Cast FLOP
6/22/1976 GODSPELL (Tr. From Obway) Bell HIT
7/21/1976 GUYS AND DOLLS (Rev) Motown FLOP
7/22/1976 LET MY PEOPLE COME (Tr. From Obway) Libra FLOP
9/25/1976 PORGY AND BESS (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
10/9/1976 THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM Csp FLOP
12/22/1976 YOUR ARMÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S TOO SHORT Ã?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ GOD Abs HIT
1/12/1977 IPI-TOMBI Ashtree FLOP
2/10/1977 A PARTY WITH COMDEN Ã?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ (Rev) Drg FLOP
4/17/1977 I LOVE MY WIFE Atlantic HIT
4/21/1977 ANNIE Columbia HIT
5/2/1977 THE KING AND I (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
5/31/1977 BEATLEMANIA Arista HIT
10/29/1977 THE ACT Drg HIT
2/19/1978 ON THE 20TH CENTURY Columbia FLOP
5/9/1978 AINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??T MISBEHAVINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?? RCA Red Seal HIT
5/13/1978 RUNAWAYS Columbia FLOP
5/14/1978 WORKING Columbia FLOP
6/19/1978 THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSEÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ Mca HIT
12/14/1978 BALLROOM Columbia FLOP
1/11/1979 THE GRAND TOUR Columbia FLOP
2/11/1979 THEYÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??RE PLAYING OUR SONG Casablanca HIT
3/1/1979 SWEENEY TODD RCA Red Seal HIT
4/8/1979 CARMELINA Original Cast FLOP
5/31/1979 I REMEMBER MAMA Ter FLOP
6/13/1979 THE MADWOMAN OF CP WEST Drg FLOP
9/25/1979 EVITA MCA HIT
10/8/1979 SUGAR BABIES B'way East HIT
12/13/1979 OKLAHOMA! (Rev) RCA Red Seal FLOP

4/30/1980 BARNUM Columbia HIT
5/1/1980 A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/UKRAINE Drg HIT
8/25/1980 42nd STREET RCA Red Seal HIT
12/14/1980 ONWARD VICTORIA Original Cast FLOP
1/8/1981 THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Elektra HIT
3/1/1981 SOPHISTICATED LADIES RCA Red Seal HIT
3/5/1981 BRING BACK BIRDIE Original Cast FLOP
3/29/1981 WOMAN OF THE YEAR Arista FLOP
5/12/1981 LENA HORNE: THE LADY & HER MUSIC Atlantic HIT
11/10/1981 OH, BROTHER Original Cast FLOP
11/16/1981 MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG RCA Red Seal FLOP
12/20/1981 DREAMGIRLS Geffen HIT
1/27/1982 JOSEPHÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦DREAMCOAT Chrysallis HIT
2/4/1982 PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES Columbia HIT
5/7/1982 IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGHSCHOOL Original Cast FLOP
5/9/1982 NINE Columbia HIT
5/27/1982 DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOESÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ Csp FLOP
9/23/1982 A DOLLÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S LIFE Original Cast FLOP
10/7/1982 CATS Geffen HIT
3/6/1983 ON YOUR TOES (Rev) Ter HIT
5/1/1983 MY ONE AND ONLY Atlantic HIT
5/11/1983 DANCE A LITTLE CLOSER Ibr FLOP
8/21/1983 LA CAGE AUX FOLLES RCA Red Seal HIT
10/16/1983 ZORBA (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
11/21/1983 DOONSBURY Mca FLOP
12/4/1983 BABY Ter FLOP
12/21/1983 THE TAP DANCE KID Ter FLOP
2/9/1984 THE RINK Ter FLOP
4/5/1984 THE HUMAN COMEDY Original Cast FLOP
5/2/1984 SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE RCA Red Seal FLOP
4/8/1985 LEADER OF THE PACK Elektra FLOP
4/16/1985 GRIND Ter FLOP
4/25/1985 BIG RIVER Mca HIT
9/18/1985 SONG AND DANCE RCA Red Seal FLOP
12/2/1985 THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Polydor FLOP
12/18/1985 JERRYÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S GIRLS Ter FLOP
4/27/1986 SWEET CHARITY Emi FLOP
8/10/1986 ME AND MY GIRL Mca HIT
8/21/1986 RAGS Sony FLOP
3/12/1987 LES MISERABLES Geffen HIT
3/15/1987 STARLIGHT EXPRESS Polydor FLOP
10/15/1987 LATE NIGHT COMIC Original Cast FLOP
10/19/1987 ANYTHING GOES (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
11/5/1987 INTO THE WOODS RCA Victor FLOP
1/26/1988 PHANTOM OF THE OPEREA Polydor HIT
4/28/1988 CHESS RCA Victor FLOP
5/1/1988 ROMANCE/ROMANCE Mca FLOP
12/26/1988 LEGS DIAMOND RCA Victor FLOP
1/26/1989 BLACK AND BLUE Drg FLOP
2/26/1989 JEROME ROBBINSÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?? BROADWAY RCA Victor FLOP
4/27/1989 STARMITES Original Cast FLOP
11/2/1989 MEET ME IN ST LOUIS Drg FLOP
11/2/1989 GRAND HOTEL RCA Victor HIT
11/16/1989 GYPSY (Rev) Elektra HIT
12/11/1989 CITY OF ANGELS Columbia HIT
4/08/1990 ASPECTS OF LOVE Polydor FLOP
10/18/1990 ONCE ON THIS ISLAND RCA Victor HIT
4/11/1991 MISS SAIGON Geffen HIT
4/25/1991 THE SECRET GARDEN Columbia FLOP
5/1/1991 THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES Columbia HIT
12/8/1991 NICK AND NORA Ter FLOP
2/13/1992 THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
2/19/1992 CRAZY FOR YOU Angel HIT
4/8/1992 FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE Columbia FLOP
4/14/1992 GUYS AND DOLLS RCA Victor HIT
4/26/1992 JELLYÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S LAST JAM Mercury FLOP
12/10/1992 MY FAVORITE YEAR RCA Victor FLOP
3/4/1993 THE GOODBYE GIRL Columbia FLOP
4/22/1993 TOMMY RCA Victor HIT
4/25/1993 BLOOD BROTHERS Attic FLOP
4/3/1993 KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Mercury FLOP
6/10/1993 SHE LOVES ME (Rev) Varese Sarabande FLOP
3/3/1994 DAMN YANKEES! (Rev) Mercury FLOP
3/24/1994 CAROUSEL (Rev) Angel HIT
4/18/1994 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Disney HIT
5/9/1994 PASSION Angel FLOP
5/10/1994 THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦PUBLIC Varese Sarabande FLOP
5/11/1994 GREASE (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
10/2/1994 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Livent HIT
11/17/1994 SUNSET BOULEVARD Polydor FLOP
3/2/1995 SMOKEY JOEÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??S CAFÃ?Æ?Ã?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â?° Atlantic HIT
3/23/1995 HOW TO SUCCEEDÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/10/1995 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (Rev) Drg FLOP
10/5/1995 COMPANY (Rev) Angel nc
10/19/1995 HELLO DOLLY (Rev) Varese Sarabande HIT
10/22/1995 SWINGINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?? ON A STAR After 9 FLOP
10/25/1995 VICTOR/VICTORIA Phillips FLOP
3/27/1996 STATE FAIR Drg FLOP
4/11/1996 THE KING AND I (Rev) Varese Sarabande FLOP
4/18/1996 A FUNNY THINGÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ (Rev) Angel HIT
4/28/1996 BIG Universal FLOP
4/29/1996 RENT Dreamworks HIT
11/14/1996 CHICAGO RCA Victor HIT
12/19/1996 ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
3/20/1997 PLAY ON Varese Sarabande FLOP
4/23/1997 TITANIC RCA Victor FLOP
4/24/1997 STEEL PIER RCA Victor FLOP
4/26/1997 THE LIFE Sony FLOP
4/28/1997 JEKYLL AND HYDE Atlantic FLOP
4/29/2297 CANDIDE (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
5/18/1997 KING DAVID Disney HIT
8/14/1997 1776 (Rev) Tvt FLOP
10/16/1997 SIDE SHOW Sony FLOP
10/23/1997 TRIUMPH OF LOVE Ter FLOP
11/9/1997 THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL Atlantic FLOP
11/13/1997 THE LION KING Disney HIT
1/18/1998 RAGTIME RCA Victor FLOP
3/12/1998 THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
3/19/1998 CABARET (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
4/27/1998 HIGH SOCIETY Drg FLOP
10/22/1998 FOOTLOOSE Atlantic FLOP
11/12/1998 LITTLE ME Varese Sarabande FLOP
12/17/1998 PARADE RCA Victor FLOP
1/14/1999 FOSSE RCA Victor HIT
2/4/1999 YOUÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â??RE A GOOD MANÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/4/1998 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Angel HIT
11/18/1999 KISS ME, KATE (Rev) DRG HIT
12/2/1999 MARIE CHRISTINE RCA Victor FLOP
12/9/1999 SWING! Sony FLOP

3/23/2000 AIDA Disney HIT
4/27/2000 THE MUSIC MAN Atlantic FLOP
10/26/2000 THE FULL MONTY RCA Victor HIT
11/15/2000 THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
11/30/2000 SEUSSICAL Decca FLOP
12/10/2000 JANE EYRE Sony FLOP
3/11/2000 A CLASS ACT RCA Victor FLOP
4/12/2001 BELLS ARE RINGING (Rev) Fynsworth Alley FLOP
4/19/2001 THE PRODUCERS Sony HIT
5/2/2001 42ND STREET (Rev) Atlantic FLOP
9/20/2001 URINETOWN RCA Victor HIT
10/18/2001 MAMMA MIA Decca HIT
10/25/2001 THOU SHALT NOT Private N/C
10/28/2001 BY JEEVES Polydor FLOP
2/17/2002 BEA ARTHUR ON BROADWAY Drg HIT
2/21/2002 ELAINE STRITCH AT LIBERTY Drg HIT
3/14/2002 SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Sony FLOP
4/18/2002 THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/30/2002 INTO THE WOODS (Rev) Nonesuch FLOP
8/15/2002 HAIRSPRAY Sony HIT
10/17/2002 FLOWER DRUM SONG (Rev) Drg FLOP
10/20/2002 AMOUR Sh-k-boom FLOP
10/24/2002 MOVINÃ?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?? OUT Sony HIT
12/5/2002 MAN OF LA MANCHA (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/10/2003 NINE PS Classics HIT
4/13/2003 A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD PS Classics FLOP
5/1/2003 GYPSY (Rev) Angel FLOP
7/31/2003 AVENUE Q RCA Victor HIT
10/2/2003 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Drg FLOP
10/16/2003 THE BOY FROM OZ Decca HIT
10/30/2003 WICKED Decca HIT
11/13/2003 TABOO Drg FLOP
11/23/2003 WONDERFUL TOWN Drg FLOP
2/26/2004 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Rev) PS Classics FLOP
4/22/2004 ASSASSINS (Rev) PS Classics N/C
4/29/2004 BOMBAY DREAMS Sony FLOP
5/2/2004 CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Hollywood FLOP
7/22/2004 THE FROGS PS Classics N/C
12/2/2004 PACIFIC OVERTURES PS Classics N/C
1/23/2005 LITTLE WOMEN Ghostlight FLOP
3/3/2005 DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Ghostlight FLOP
3/17/2005 SPAMALOT Decca HIT
3/24/2005 ALL SHOOK UP Masterworks Broadway FLOP
4/18/2005 THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Nonesuch NC
5/28/2005 CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG First Night FLOP
5/2/2005 THE 25TH Ã?Æ?Ã?â??Ã?â??Ã?â?¦ SPELLING BEE Ghostlight HIT
5/4/2005 SWEET CHARITY (Rev) Drg FLOP
11/3/2005 SWEENEY TODD (Rev) Nonesuch HIT
11/6/2005 JERSEY BOYS Atlantic HIT
11/17/2005 WOMAN IN WHITE RUG FLOP
12/1/2005 THE COLOR PURPLE Angel HIT
2/23/2006 THE PAJAMA GAME Columbia HIT
4/27/2006 THE WEDDING SINGER Masterworks Broadway FLOP
5/1/2006 THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Ghostlight HIT
5/10/2006 TARZAN Disney FLOP
4/17/2006 FAME BECOMES ME Ghostlight FLOP
10/5/2006 A CHORUS LINE (Rev) Masterworks Broadway HIT
11/2/2006 GREY GARDENS PS Classics FLOP
11/16/2006 MARY POPPINS First Night HIT
11/29/2006 COMPANY (Rev) Nonesuch FLOP
12/07/2006 HIGH FIDELITY Ghostlight FLOP
12/10/2006 SPRING AWAKENING Decca HIT
3/22/2007 CURTAINS Angel FLOP
4/5/2007 THE PIRATE QUEEN Masterworks Broadway FLOP
4/29/2007 LEGALLY BLONDE Ghostlight FLOP
5/3/2007 LOVEMUSIK Ghostlight N/C
5/9/2007 110 IN THE SHADE (Rev) PS Classics N/C
7/10/2007 XANADU PS Classics FLOP
8/19/2007 GREASE (Rev) Masterworks Broadway HIT
11/8/2007 YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Decca FLOP
1/10/2008 THE LITTLE MERMAID Disney FLOP
2/21/2008 SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE PS Classics N/C
2/28/2008 PASSING STRANGE Ghostlight FLOP
3/9/2008 IN THE HEIGHTS Ghostlight HIT
3/27/2008 GYPSY (Rev) Time-Life FLOP
4/3/2008 SOUTH PACIFIC Masterworks Broadway N/C
4/17/2008 CATERED AFFAIR PS Classics FLOP

===UPDATE 2008/09 SEASON===

7/17/2008 [title of show] Ghostlight FLOP
10/05/2008 13 Ghostlight FLOP
11/13/2008 BILLY ELLIOT Decca (OLC) ?
11/23/2008 WHITE CHRISTMAS Ghostlight ?
12/14/2008 SHREK Decca ?
2/19/2009 THE STORY OF MY LIFE PS Classics FLOP
3/19/2009 WEST SIDE STORY (Rev) Sony HIT
3/31/2009 HAIR (Rev) Ghostlight HIT
4/07/2009 ROCK OF AGES ? ?
4/15/2009 NEXT TO NORMAL Ghostlight ?
4/30/2009 9 TO 5 Dolly Records FLOP

Update: 10/2009: Variety did not publish a chart for the 2008/098 season. From the producers announcements we know mwhat shows are hits and those that closed without recouping.

Updated On: 10/14/09 at 02:11 AM

[cello_dude]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 2:16am

Who decided which ones were HITS and which were FLOPS?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 2:21am

Variety (via the producers' offices) publishes an annual tabulation of the season's financial Hits and Flops.

A Hit is a show that made money, a flop is show that lost money. Reviews and long runs matter not in this tabulation.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 2:40am

No wonder invest on a Broadway show sounds like a crazy idea, that's a bunch of flops!

Posted: 4/2/08 at 11:36am

I don't think Drood was a flop...

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 11:39am

What does NC mean?

[singingbackup]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 11:43am

Enough with the Flop threads, please.
Updated On: 4/2/08 at 11:43 AM

[Jon]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 11:44am

I imagine it means "non-commercial". Shows produced by non-profit companies such as Lincoln Center can't really be classified as hits or flops since there are no "investors" to make a profit or lose money.

[jpbran]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 11:52am

Not that money is everything, but some of those listed as Flop just make me sad. (And some listed as Hit make me cringe...)

-J

[roseaddams]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 1:44pm

I never realized The Mystery of Edwin Drood didn't return its investment.

[amalou]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 2:56pm

This is depressing. I do love a lot of shows that are considered flops both financially and critically, but to see the likes of COMPANY and GREY GARDENS in the flops list makes me really sad. I know everyone says "it's a business" but it's also an experience when you see a show and if something moves you, you're not thinking "but still...it's a business." It feels like more than that. And lists like this bring the sad reality back into view.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 3:14pm

Any chance there is some creative accounting here, to make the books look worse than they are and the investors actually pocket more than they say? This type of thing has been suggested in the movie and record industry for years.

Things like investors getting consultant fees and investors also being part owners in the set building or marketing companies or theater owners and that sort of thing to recoup some of their money early in the production. So, the big investors get more out than the little guys that want a small piece to be able to tell friends they own a part of a broadway show at cocktail parties.

Updated On: 4/2/08 at 03:14 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 3:18pm

Yes, in fact despite the starry cast and Tony Award for Best Musical, DROOD only managed a run of 608 performances and when it closed it was still in the red.

And, yes, N/C means non-commercial - the profits (if any) are used by the theatre companyy to finance their next venture(s).

The Hit or Flop status is mainly for statistical purposes. Th real successes are the shows that continue to be performed in professional, and non professional theatres. The fact that a show was a financial failure on Braodway has no bearing on whether someone will buy a ticket to see a production of it.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 3:21pm

I don't see Mamma Mia! on the list. Is that because the album made was from the London production and not New York Broadway? I think it opened in 2001?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 3:26pm

Thanks, Marianne2.

When I did the list is was mainly geared to shows that had Broadway cast albums but I have been going back and adding shows that came to NY but used trheir London cast albums. (Obviously MISS SAIGON was also a big hit and it did not get a Brioadway cat album.) If you think of any others I missed I will add them as well.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 4:17pm

How would you know that TARZAN was a flop?
I mean, I know it was, but does DISNEY publish how much their shows cost?

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 4:32pm

42nd Street ran for 4 years and was a flop? Wow...

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 5:06pm

Jekyll & Hyde ran even longer, I believe.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 5:44pm

The SWEENEY TODD REVIVAL was a hit?

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE was a flop?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 6:19pm

Yes, the revival of SWEENEY TODD paid off very quickly in fact. There was a poting on both BWW and Playbil at the time.

And indeed MILLIE did NOT pay off as of the closing. Same with 42ND STREET Revival..it did not recoup. Nor did JEKYLL & HYDE.

As for TARZAN, Disny may not have published their show costs but Variety reported it as a flop. We all knew that anyhow..it ran for months at well below capacity.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 6:39pm

The first thing I noticed was the flop/hit ratio of shows in the 40s. 8 flops vs. 28 hits!

[philly03]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 7:25pm

I hate that Jekyll is a flop...but it defanetly was. It barely recouped 3/4s of the 7 million I believe it was initially invested. Maybe it was becuase of all of hte national tours (3) that were going around? Who knows? Any ideas how it could have been open for 1600 perfs and did not recoup?

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 4/2/08 at 7:30pm

All this time I thought the original Into the Woods was one of the few Sondheim shows to actually pay back.

Oh well. Another dream dead.

Updated On: 4/2/08 at 07:30 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/3/08 at 12:19am

While INTO THE WOODS had not recouped at the time of closing it was reported later that income from the tour nudged it into the black. SWEENEY TODD likewise closed in the red in 1980 but some years later addittional income from the two tours helped pay it off.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/3/08 at 12:27am

And I could've sworn that Once On this Island was a flop, go figure.