Flops That Got Revivals- Page 3

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Posted: 7/14/08 at 6:09pm

Wow. SO much misinformation and guessing.

I hope that people realize that some people (like TooDarnHot) just make up whatever facts they want to post.

At the top of this thread it is declared the original PETER PAN was a flop. In fact it was a hit. The production played a scheduled limited run of 152 performances with the deal to broadcast the show on NBC set before the Broadway opening so even before the show opened it had recouped.

Some shows recoup thanks to post-Broadway income. SWEENEY TODD, ZORBA and INTO THE WOODS are examples. HALF A SIXPENCE also paid off thanks to a post-Broadway tour.

We while back I posted a list of hits and flops, at least for shows that ran long enough to get recorded and ignoring obvious disasters like GLORY DAYS and THE GIORL FROM NANTUCKET.

The status of most shows is not hard to find. Steven Suskind's OPENING NIGHTS books give the info for most shows 1943 to 1981.

MAJOR BROADWAY HITS AND FLOPS 1940-2008

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 FLOP
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 FINIAN’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, I’M DANCIN’ 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 LI’L DARLIN’ 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 FLOP
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 TWO’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 LI’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 FLOP
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 FINIAN’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 BUSINESS… 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 HAPPENED…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 HERE’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 GREASEPAINT… RCA Victor HIT
10/17/1965 ON A CLEAR DAY… 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 IT’S A BIRD! IT’S … 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 (later re-classified as a HIT)
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 MINNIE’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 YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CH. BROWN MgM FLOP
10/12/1971 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Decca HIT
10/20/1971 AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE… A&m FLOP
10/21/1971 TO LIVE ANOTEHR SUMMER… 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 DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’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 ARM’S TOO SHORT … GOD Abs HIT
1/12/1977 IPI-TOMBI Ashtree FLOP
2/10/1977 A PARTY WITH COMDEN … (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 AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ RCA Red Seal HIT
5/13/1978 RUNAWAYS Columbia FLOP
5/14/1978 WORKING Columbia FLOP
6/19/1978 THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE… Mca HIT
12/14/1978 BALLROOM Columbia FLOP
1/11/1979 THE GRAND TOUR Columbia FLOP
2/11/1979 THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG Casablanca HIT
3/1/1979 SWEENEY TODD RCA Red Seal FLOP(later became a 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 JOSEPH…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 SHOES… Csp FLOP
9/23/1982 A DOLL’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 JERRY’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 (Later became a HIT)
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 ROBBINS’ 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 JELLY’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 WHOREH…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 JOE’S CAFÉ Atlantic HIT
3/23/1995 HOW TO SUCCEED… (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 SWINGIN’ 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 THING… (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 YOU’RE A GOOD MAN… (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 MOVIN’ 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(rev)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 (rev) 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 … 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
8/17/2006 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 ?
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 ?
8/19/2007 GREASE (Rev) Masterworks Broadway ?
11/8/2007 YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Decca ?
1/10/2008 THE LITTLE MERMAID Disney ?
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 ?
3/27/2008 GYPSY (Rev) Time-Life ?
4/3/2008 SOUTH PACIFIC Masterworks Broadway ?
4/17/2008 CATERED AFFAIR PS Classics FLOP

Updated On: 7/14/08 at 06:09 PM

[sparkleplenty]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 6:11pm

I believe A Little Night Music was a hit. Was that really listed as a flop?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 6:25pm

2/25/1973 A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Columbia HIT

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 6:30pm

The original PAL JOEY was a HIt. Remember that in 1940 a season's run of 250-300 performances was enough for a show to pay off.

VARIETY termed the phrase Hit and Flop but it is purely a financial consideration.

GREY GARDENS - as much as we may consider it an admirable achievement - was not a HIT. It ran 9 months. But I suspect it will have a life in regional theatres. And that is the real measure of a show's success.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 6:39pm

Regarding Sondheim, let's not forget Assassins, which was a major flop originally, but met with more success in its revival. Again, however, its initial production was off-Broadway, not Broadway.

The off-Broadway run was neither a hit nor a flop. It was a limited non-commercial engagement by Playwrights Horizons. Since the entire run was sold out before the very first preview. The reviews coupled with the political climate due to the Gulf War scuttled any hope of a Broadway transfer. 9/11 caused the cancellation of the first Broadway revival in 2001.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 11:17am

"Some shows recoup thanks to post-Broadway income. SWEENEY TODD, ZORBA and INTO THE WOODS are examples. HALF A SIXPENCE also paid off thanks to a post-Broadway tour."

You have to be a little careful here. It is not always the same producers that produce a tour. So, "The Show" may make money, but not the original producers.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 11:24am

I don't know if LITTLE ME was truly a flop when it was first produced, but it was certainly under appreciated, much like CHICAGO. It's been revived twice, once with Victor Garber once with Martin Short, and definitely flopped both times.

EDIT: Just looked it up. Yep, it flopped all three times.

Updated On: 7/15/08 at 11:24 AM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 1:31pm

The original LITTLE ME - despite critical endorsement (6 favourable reviews vs. 1 unfavourable) and the appearance of TV star Sid Caesar, it never caught on with the general public.

The 1982 revival was by commercial producers and flopped - badly.

The 1997 revival was a limited run by Roundabout Theater Company. Curiously, Variety of June 8-14, 1998 does not show LITTLE ME as a HIT, a FLOP or a NON-PROFIT production, though I suspect the latter. Anyone know for sure?


It has a wickedly funny script, and a tuneful score. I am surprised few community theatre groups have picked it up.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 2:12pm

Little Me has always been a special show for little me. I saw the original 3 times and the 2 Broadway revivals. Both revivals had problems: the 1982 revival by having two actors play the male lead(s) -- Victor Garber and James Coco; and the 1997 production by having one actress (Faith Prince) play both the Young and Older Belle. I think the ultimate success of the show depends on having a strong comic do all the male leads (as was the case with Sid Caesar and Martin Short -- who was wonderful). But it's a terrific musical comedy score and, circumstances permitting, should be done as it was done originally: ONE comic lead and TWO Belles. I don't know if it will ever be revived in my lifetime, but I'd be there if it was.

Posted: 11/4/08 at 8:07am

"For example, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN ran for I believe over 800 performances and never made back its investment. Hence it's a flop. "

But Kiss recouped on the road... does that count? Or not? By whose rules? (I know other shows, like Zorba, *didn't* recoup on the road though they had tours--the liner notes for Zorba say that as of the mid 70s it was still over 100,000 dollars in the red)

Oh add my beloved Zorba to the list then if it's not been mentioned already. The more optimistic, more movie based revival made back its money before it even got to Broadway.

I agree for the love of LIttle Me, although I think it's a show that needs as strong choreography as Fosse gave it...

Interesting the 46 Showboat is listed as a flop--for some reason I had always read it was a hit. Still whoever implied the original production just made money but wasn't much of a hit is wrong--it was a huge hit for its day and led to the return engagement in '32

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 8:32am

Follies...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 10:07am

Blood Brothers didn't recoup? I could have sworn it did. How sad. And I think we can assume Thou Shalt Not was not a hit.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 10:35am

"You're all flops. I am the Earth Mother, and you are all flops."

Now that I've gotten THAT out of the way...

I believe BOEING-BOEING was a huuuuge critical and financial flop. Now look at it. Raves and money (well, not so much money anymore really). Lovely.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 11:19am

You know, looking at the lists of hits and flops (and putting tour quibbling aside), it seems like there are almost no musical shows that were commercial flops as originally seen on Broadway that have EVER been brought back to the Main Stem. I see:

THE THREEPENNY OPERA
PORGY AND BESS
CANDIDE
SHE LOVES ME
FOLLIES
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

That's it. That's all I'm finding. And I note that these are shows which all became known through recordings rather than being seen regionally (SITPWG being the exception).

I guess when producers look at reviving a show they really do look at the previous track records. Hm.

Updated On: 11/4/08 at 11:19 AM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 11:53am

Some of them listing are off and do not take in to account the tours mounted after the shows closed in NY.I know the poster seems to take them in to account but that list does not.

I know for a fact that Footloose recouped thanks to its first US Tour (the show was not far off recouping on Broadway after running over 700 performances)

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 12:15pm

We can add two shows to that list, because Roundabout is bringing back two flops soon- Side Show and Merrily We Roll Along.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 4:51pm

Zorba didn't fully pay off until Anthony Quinn did it in NY and on tour for about 4 years in the 80s. The original producing entity got a miniscule royalty each week, but the money added up.

Boeing Boeing wasn't a "big flop" but it was a fast one--3 weeks. If you look at the credits, the only name that is recognizable out of the actors, producer, director is the Associate Producer who is someone like Hal Wallis or another big Hollywood name. What that says to me is that it was Hollywood money that put it on so as to get the subsidiary rights in the US when the film was released. Plays have to play a certain number of performances under the Production Contract in NYC for the original producers to share in stock and amateur rights. The number of performances in NY is small, maybe 21 counting previews.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 6:11pm

"This is sort of on-topic, I hope. When Pal Joey opened in 1940, it got 'mixed' notices to say the least, most notably Brooks Atkinson's comment as to whether it was possible to draw sweet water from a foul well, or words to that effect. The legend grew that it had been a failure when done originally, but times had changed to such an extent that, by the time of the revival in 1952, it was recognized for the great show that it is."

In fact, the original production of Pal Joey got mostly extremely favorable reviews. The mixed reviews were in the minority, and even the mixed reviews were far from pans. People always remember the Atkinson review, and Atkinson wasn't alone, but most of the reviews were very favorable to raves.

And of the original productions of Rodgers and Hart shows, it had the third longest run. Only the original productions of A Connecticut Yankee and By Jupiter ran longer.

Some shows that I think haven't yet been mentioned (forgive me if some have):

Little Murders (flop on Broadway, hit Off-Broadway a couple of years later)
She Loves Me (a financial flop twice on Broadway and twice in London)
The Last Analysis (flop on Broadway, flop Off-Broadway a few yeats later)
A Doll's Life (revisal got good reviews at York, talk of a commercial transfer that didn't happen)
Entertaing Mr. Sloane
Loot
What the Butler Saw

So many plays that were flops have been revived on or Off-Broadway that I couldn't even begin to list them all. For one more example, Waiting for Godot was a succès d'estime (or, as George S. Kaufman put it, a success that runs out of steam) in its original Broadway production, but it's been revived plenty Off-Broadway (and is about to revived again, for the first time on Broadway since an all-black production less than a year after the first Broadway production).

Another example: Jumpers was a flop in its first Broadway production and also a flop in the revival a few years ago.

Big example: The Iceman Cometh had a respectable run but financially unsuccessful run in its first Broadway production, but it's been revived plenty of times. Summer and Smoke is another example of a play that failed on Broadway originally, but came back a few years later Off-Broadway successfully.

And Arthur Miller's first play, The Man Who Had All the Luck was a fast failure in its first Broadway production, but was well-received in revival a few years ago at the Roundabout (a production that started at Williamstown).

And A Moon for the Misbegotten is another example.

Posted: 11/4/08 at 6:48pm

I know Tenn Williams' excellent Camino Real got a revival in the 70s (which I think flopped again but I have my doubts anyone expected it to long run...). I thought that Orpheus Descending (one of my all time faves) which flopped in the 50s, was revived on Broadway but I guess the amazing 80s Vanessa Redgrave version directed by Peter Hall only played in London. It was filmed for US tv though (and badly needs a DVD release)

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 6:59pm

"I know Tenn Williams' excellent Camino Real got a revival in the 70s (which I think flopped again but I have my doubts anyone expected it to long run...)."

This does bring up the question of whether we should count revivals produced by nonprofits, as the Camino Real was produced by the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center.

"You know, looking at the lists of hits and flops (and putting tour quibbling aside), it seems like there are almost no musical shows that were commercial flops as originally seen on Broadway that have EVER been brought back to the Main Stem. I see:

THE THREEPENNY OPERA
PORGY AND BESS
CANDIDE
SHE LOVES ME
FOLLIES
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE"

I'd add Sweeney Todd, Pacific Overtures, Little Me. Take Me Along, The Apple Tree and Follies, though some of those revivals were produced by nonprofits. But you seem to be counting those since you're including Sunday in the Park With George.

Posted: 11/4/08 at 7:06pm

Right--ti becomes difficult to judge. Marie Christine wouldn't count then would it? What about all the Roundabout revivals?

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 7:37pm

"Right--ti becomes difficult to judge. Marie Christine wouldn't count then would it? What about all the Roundabout revivals?"

Well, they count as Broadway revivals, but they're not commercially produced so it's not as if a commercial producer is saying, "Well, this was a flop the first time but I think it can be a hit this time."

Marie Christine can't be considered to have been a hit, that's for sure, but with new shows produced by nonprofits, yes, it will be a kind of gray area for this question if and when any of them get revived. Chances are that any revivals of a show like Marie Christine would be from another nonprofit.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 7:38pm

Putting aside the qubble about whether "Sweeney Todd" originally recouped, I guess I am sort of torn about the Roundabout revivals, which of course I love them for doing. But it's not the same thing as a commercial revival economically, is it, even though of course many of the costs are the same--it's just that the financing is diffferent,as are the profit expectations.

And maybe I wasn't counting SITPWG among the Roundabout shows, as it was brought over from London.

I should say that I love being kept honest by BWW posters! Keep it up!

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 7:49pm

Also, remember that Sweeney got its first Broadway revival (albeit from a nonprofit) in 1989, when I think the original production still had not paid off.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 7:53pm

Maybe we need a new thread--Commercial Broadway flops that were revived, but by a Broadway non-Profit!