Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Luckiest Bway Theater ?
#0Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:26pmHi, all. I was wondering which theater is considered the luckiest, in the sense that it has staged the most (in number)succesful shows ! And I mean a few succesful shows, because I am sure that the theaters staging Phantom or Cats could claim the title, but their success came from one show (or two in the case of Winter Garden )! I am quite impressed with the Imperial ( I know about Dreamgirls, Les Mis, Boy from Oz, Scoundrels) but I have to admit that my knowledge is very limited ! I think it can be an interesting discussion !
sassypanz
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
#1re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:31pmYour Mom is the luckiest! lololololololol :)
#2re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:33pm
Well, that IS a good way to start off an "interesting discussion."
The Imperial would probably be one of them, at least as of recent dates - lots of popular shows. Though, my knowledge is very limited as well.
sassypanz
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
#3re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:34pmlolol. Ok now getting serious, The Gershwin!
#4re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:35pmWell, I never expected my mom to pop up on a BWW thread, but there you go !
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#5re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:35pmThe Imperial is generally regarded as the house with the most hits. If you check out IBDB.com, it has had relatively few tenants for a vintage house, given the long runs of the shows that have played there. Chess strikes me as the only flop there in about the last 25 years, and that was at least a respectable flop, not an epic horror.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#6re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:38pmWhat other shows has the Gershwin staged before Wicked ?
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:40pmThe Gershwin does not have a good track record. Lots of flops and money losers, despite a few quality shows like the original Sweeney Todd and the 90s Show Boat revival.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#8re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:41pm
No, no, GMF you've got it all wrong. All that matters is WICKED!!
heh. um - they had that Oklahoma! revival...
The Gershwin on IBDb
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#9re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:42pm...which was a financial loser.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
gavrochegirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/16/05
#10re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:44pmYeah, the only reason people would say the Gershwin is because they love Wicked so much...I'd also say the Imperial. The last three shows (Les Mis, Boy from Oz, and DRS) were big sucesses.
What the puck?!
#11re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:46pm
Well, history goes much farther back than three shows.
I didn't mean the revival was successful, I was just... thinking aloud, if you will.
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#12re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:50pmThe 1977 King and I revival, Pirates of Penzance and Wicked may be the only three certified hits to play the Gershwin. Grand Hotel and Annie ended their runs there after tranferring from other houses, so I'm not counting those shows.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#13re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:50pmYes, emcee is right, I thought that there are maybe a couple that are considered very lucky in the sense that they have a very good track record ! I know there are a couple that are considered unlucky and poisonous, that's why I asked for the oppposite side !
#14re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:51pm
And looking at the link emcee provided about the Gershwin, did Starlight Express last only one year on Broadway ? I've never seen it mentioned as a flop on our discussions here !
Updated On: 7/21/05 at 07:51 PM
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#15re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:52pm
Although not as flop-free as the Imperial, the St. James, the Shubert and the Majestic are the other three biggies.
The Winter Garden and the Neil Simon have had more hits than not, although I do remember the Winter Garden having flop after flop in the 70s, and the same thing with the Neil Simon/Alvin in the early 80s.
And although it has had a few flop tenants in recent years (Side Show, Steel Pier and Seussical), I think the Richard Rodgers still holds the record for most Tony Award-winning plays and musicals that opened there (Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees, New Girl in Town, Redhead, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 1776, Raisin, Nine, Fences, Lost in Yonkers).
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
Updated On: 7/21/05 at 07:52 PM
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#16re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 7:53pmYeah, the Broadway Starlight was a failure here. They kinda blew the big thing that make it fun in London, by not having the tracks encircle the audience.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
#17re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:01pmI saw it in London twice and I enjoyed it immensely ! But i am surprised, because considering the huge production that means it was a flop of impressive proportions and I don't think I've ever seen it on the "flop" threads here !
#18re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:07pm"tracks encircle the audience.".... wow, that does sound really fun...
Mujhse Dosti Karoge?
#19re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:07pm"tracks encircle the audience.".... wow, that does sound really fun...
Mujhse Dosti Karoge?
seymour krelborn
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#20re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:13pm
well we can definitely rule out the virginia theater.
Updated On: 7/21/05 at 08:13 PM
#21re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:16pmI would also say the Imperial. Besides Les Miz, Boy From Oz and DRS, there was also The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dreamgirls, Chapter Two, Pippin, Cabaret, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof (orig.), Carnival! and I'm sure many more I'm too lazy to check which won Tony Awards there.
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#22re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/21/05 at 8:16pmdouble post
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Updated On: 7/21/05 at 08:16 PM
#23re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/23/05 at 6:43pm
The Imperial has indeed has many hits goiing back to 1924 with ROSE MARIE. Other hits: OH, KAY! (1926), THE NEW MOON (192
, ON YOUR TOES (1936), LEAVE IT TO EM (193, LOUISIANA PURCHASE (1940), ONE TOUCH OF VENUS (1943), ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1946), CALL ME MADAM (1950), WISH YOU WERE HER (1952), THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (1956), JAMAICA (1957), OLICER! (1963), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1964), PIPPIN (1972), and DREAMGIRLS (1981.)
The 46th Street/Richard rodgers holds the records for the most Tony winners (including the revival of CHICAGO which opened there but had to move out to make way for the incoming STEEL PIER. CHICAGO moved to the Shubert and later the Ambassador.)
The Uris/Gershwin has been one of Broadway lest succesful theatres. Few shows until WICKED could sell it out. It had some minor hits with limited run revivals but it is an ugly building with a small marquee and awkward entrance. Similar to the Minskoff which has had some successful limited run revivals, transfers and concerts, but has never opened a full-fledged hit!
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#24re: Luckiest Bway Theater ?
Posted: 7/23/05 at 6:59pmI was going to mention that the Uris/Gershwn and the Minskoff (Which I believe opened at about the same time- coincidence?) must be the unluckiest theatres. The Minskoff especially had some costly flops open there (IRENE, SUNSET BOULEVARD, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL). I don't think a single hit musical originated at The minskoff, and until WICKED none originated at the Uris/Gershwin (VIA GALACTICA anyone?).
Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!
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