Favorite Unsuccessful Musicals — Page 3

Yay for CHILDREN OF EDEN. It could work on Broadway!!!

thanks, to tell the truth im reading the novel right now (im on page 125- elphaba and boq are visiting galinda on her summer vacation) and im starting to think that the show isnt living up to the books standards... but i need to finish it before i jump to such conclusions. i did really enjoy the show, dont get me wrong, but so far the book just has so much more depth and i love the political subtext (though it isnt really always just subtext haha)

sorry that was off topic, i guess i should start a separate post on that, but im afraid i'll be stoned if i start another post with the "w" word in it, even if it centers on the book.

so back to unsuccessful shows, like i said, i thought seussical was fun, i just heard "alone in the universe" on broadwayworld radio, and what can i say? it makes me smile

In no particular order:

Kean
The Grass Harp
The Baker's Wife
Parade
Candide
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Chess
Merrily We Roll Along
Rags
Out of this World
Sail Away
Follies
High Society (I know the book sucked, but the cast recording is phenomenal in my book)

~Kevin

The original production of Follies lost its entire investment making it as Ted Chapin put it in "Everything Was Possible", 'a total financial failure'. In the years since, it has become regarded as one of the great musicals of all time and deservedly so, though I think it still has yet to have a financially successfull run. (I still cannot believe it lost the Best Musical Tony...)

~K

DOTV
Tom Sawyer

floyd collins & violet.

Parade
Chess
Passion
Children of Eden

---

The Spitfire Grill. Garrett Long - you rock!!!!

---

Victor/Victoria.I know this was not a favorite of many, but I had a great time at this show. I still have great memories of seeing Julie Andrews from the second row at The Marquis. I feel real fortunate to have seen someone who I truly consider to be a "Legend" - before she lost her singing voice as a result of her throat surgery. "Le Jazz Hot" was my favorite song from the musical.

People keep mentioning Follies and it is starting to irk me, so I thought I would say my peace. Yes, Follies lost all of its initial investment. But it depends how you define a failure. I see a FLOP (not a failure) as a show that lost most of its inital investment, had a short run on Broadway (under 250 performances, as Ken Mandelbaum describes it in Not Since Carries, a marvelous book) and did not have subsequent national tours nor is it performed with regularity. That is just a flop. A failure is something that either had an unworkable idea, or was not fully fleshed-out. Basically, it is something that did not live up to its potential, however much that may be. But Follies, although a financial failure, altered the course of musical theatre. It was a brilliant landmark and sent musical theatre to new territory never before explored. In addition it has never really gone away like a failure. Interest was never lost. First the 1985 concert, then the 1987 London production, then the 1998 Paper Mill production, then the 2001 revival. Follies has provided much entertainment and joy for people over its 30 years of existence. If that's not a success, I don't know what is. Follies opened doors. It made audiences think. In my heart, Follies is an enormous hit.