Tribute starring Jack Lemmon paid back the investors opening night after being over-capitalized and making huge grosses on its out of town try-out.
Same Time, Next Year (same producer, Morty Gottlieb) paid off in about 3 weeks under the same circumstances.
Morty Gottlieb was also notoriously cheap. He rode a bike everywhere (before it was fashionable) so he wouldn't have to pay subway fare which was 30-50 cents in his heyday.
Way back in the 60s, The Boys in the Band paid off in about 10 days.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
