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Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

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#1

Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

With the OCC noms coming out today, and all of the opinions, agreements, disagreements, and claims of nomination robbery--I thought, in the spirit of non-malice, I'd give a thread to those performers who have done fantastic work in shows that didn't fare too well on Broadway.

I'll start with two of my favorites from this season:


Thom Sesma, The Times They are a'Changing

Jenn Collela, High Fidelity

#2

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Well, probably the best example would be Delores Gray, who won a Best Actress Tony for the musical CARNIVAL IN FLANDERS. Total run of the show: Six performances.

Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 10:50 PM

#3

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Seriously? That's amazing!


I don't know of many myself, but I do know (as does everyone) about Kristin Chenoweth and Roger Bart, who both won Tonys for their work in YAGMCB, which flopped.
I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

Updated On: 4/23/07 at 10:55 PM

#5

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Chita Rivera got nominated for the flop Merlin and Carolee Carmello got nominated for Lestat. Didn't Dee Hoty get nominated for a flop, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public?
#6

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Dee Hoty, like Chita gets nominted for practially EVERY show she does. Heck, she even got a Tony nomination out of FOOTLOOSE!

Another example: Christopher Plummer in CYRANO.
Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!
#8

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Cyndi Lauper in last season's Threepenny.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#10

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Well, it should be noted that Grey, Rivera, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Helen Gallagher (and many others) all starred in FAR more flops than hits.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#13

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

According to Seth Rudesky there were several AMAZING performances in the ill fated "Carrie". Betty Buckley?
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
#15

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Celine Dion in The Pirate Queen... oh wait, SJB.. Haha.
I'm not gonna hate you in the magazines, (I'm better than that) I'm not gonna compromise my Christianity, (I'm better than that) You know I'm not gonna diss you on the Internet Cause my momma taught me better than that.
#18

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters in MACK AND MABEL.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
#20

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Elaine Stritch in 1958's GOLDILOCKS
Pat Stanley and Russell Nype received Tony awards for their work in GOLDILOCKS, a musical that received mixed reviews but only ran for 161 performances.
Buy the CD on Amazon.com and hear for yourself!
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"

Updated On: 4/24/07 at 08:37 AM

#22

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Daniel Davis in "Wrong Mountain". The critics all hated the show but praised his performance. (Most theatre-goers felt the same way).
www.thebreastcancersite.com
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
#23

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Gertrude Niessen in the 1940s war camp musical of all time, FOLLOW THE GIRLS. The reviews were awful, calling it tacky, stupid, imbecilic, vapid, degrading, vile, an insult to one's intelligence, etc. It didn't matter. The audiences came. Part of the fun of FOLLOW THE GIRLS were the regulars who came and would call out the dialogue from their seats.


Every movement has a meaning--but what the hell does it mean!
#25

re: Great Performances in Shows that Flopped or Got Panned

Lansbury in Prettybelle and Dear World
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."

"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS

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