I was just thinking back on all the musicals that ran for a short period of time and then never materialized anywhere else.
I'm thinking of Saved, Far From Heaven, etc. Any that come to mind? Any that have recordings?
There is a wonderful, eccentric Facebook group called Forgotten Musicals which celebrates these types of shows (and sometimes less forgotten shows), just as a heads-up.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
RippedMan said: "I was just thinking back on all the musicals that ran for a short period of time and then never materialized anywhere else.
Wouldn't that apply to, like, 99% of all the musicals ever written?
Well I don't really mean like shows that made it to Broadway and flopped, but more like, the off-Broadway musicals that were announced and performed, and you'd think they would have a life after but they didn't.
Like Dogfight (which I personally love)
But yeah, just want to listen to some forgotten musicals, so was just hoping to start a discussion and bring back some old shows.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/20
Nobody much talks about It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! anymore.
I was listening to a podcast with Harvey F. and it occurred to me that A Catered Affair literally vanished into thin air.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/15
Ghost
spiderman turn off the dark
shoulda been you
Tarzan
it seems like no one ever talks about Joseph anymore. Maybe need a revival
promises promises
if/then
Rocky
side show
once
war Paint
bandstand
King Kong
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/11
What about Raisin? If we hadn't done it at my high school,I never would have known anything about it. (Other than the play it's based on,of course.)
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
KevinKlawitter said: "Nobody much talks aboutIt's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! anymore."
I saw this with my Grandmother and I’m 90% sure we walked out at intermission
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/11
What about Raisin? If we hadn't done it at my high school,I never would have known anything about it. (Other than the play it's based on,of course.)
Theatrefanboy1 said: "Ghost
spiderman turn off the dark
shoulda been you
Tarzan
it seems like no one ever talks about Joseph anymore. Maybe need a revival
promises promises
if/then
Rocky
side show
once
war Paint
bandstand
King Kong"
None of those are forgotten musicals. Most are just musicals you wish you could forget.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
Yeah and those are all pretty recent. Some of those toured or had international productions.
I still stand by “Raining” from Rocky as one of the prettiest songs in the past 10 years.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/20
Anybody remember the Lord of the Rings musical that played Canada & London in the mid-2000s? An Olivier-nominated show based on such a huge license with music by A.R. Rahman should have made some sort of a cultural imprint - not only isn't it available for licensing, it doesn't even exist as a punchline the way Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark does. All we have is the London cast recording and a few clips on YouTube.
Updated On: 3/11/22 at 07:58 PMStand-by Joined: 4/14/17
Someone mentioned Joseph. That has been revived and on tour non-stop for years in the UK and it is a community (and church) theatre staple performed so often that it’s not unusual to see on season schedules many years in a row. Unless Daniel Fish takes the helm, I just don’t see what another big revival would even offer. Although it’s nice to have kid-friendly fare, Disney has done it bigger and better. Now, the long-rumored cartoon might bring some new life.
It just had a big tour a few years ago with American Idol peeps.
I'd love to hear Raisin. Or the forgotten Our Town musical. Love to see Encores put on those types of shows.
Did anyone see Far From Heaven? or A Catered Affair? Both seem like show I would have enjoyed.
Bernarda Alba is one that comes to mind. I adored it when I saw it and still listen to the beautiful, if sometimes difficult, cast album.
kdogg36 said: "Bernarda Albais one that comes to mind. I adored it when I saw it and still listen to the beautiful, if sometimes difficult, cast album."
Thank you for that throwback!! I use to wear that album out and cannot wait to revisit.
Chorus Member Joined: 9/14/19
I don't know if this would qualify as "forgotten" because it ran for 2 years on Broadway in the early 80's - but I wish we could see a revival of Sophisticated Ladies. The Dancin' revival made me think about it as I saw touring productions of both in the 80s and they were fantastic.
Drat! The Cat! Book and Lyrics by Ira Levin, Music by Milton Schafer.
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