Most lucky Broadway theater?

[Steel Pier Fan]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:04pm

What one produced the most hits and critical hits? Also the theater of flops?

I'd say Winter Garden and Richard Rogers then Marquis for flops.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:09pm

Hits, I'd go with the St. James. Maybe not recently, but they've had: The Producers, Hello, Dolly!, 1776, On the 20th Century, The Who's Tommy, Once Upon a Mattress, Subways Are For Sleeping & The Pajama Game (among others).

Flops: The Marquis, though that's for other mitigating circumstances other than just bad luck.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:11pm

Flops: The 87654 threads you started today.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:14pm

I'd say the Broadway, it's hosted a lot of successful (albeit short-lived) shows in the past.

[Steel Pier Fan]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:28pm

Sorry Blaxx, I'm bored and I know it doesn't have to do with luck. :P

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:31pm

Just going by Tony Awards, the Richard Rodgers has had the most Best Play/Musical/Revival winners:

Guys and Dolls (1951)
Damn Yankees (1956)
Redhead (1959)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962)
1776 (1969)
Raisin (1974)
Nine (1982)
Fences (1987)
Lost in Yonkers (1991)
Chicago (1997)
Private Lives (2002)
In the Heights (200

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:51pm

The 'Hilton/Foxwoods' has never housed a hit, true?

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:55pm

True.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 7:16pm

Well since the New Amsterdam reopened 13 years ago there hasn't been a flop there! In one year alone the Marquis has had more shows than the New Amsterdam has had in total.
New Amsterdam: Lion King and Mary Poppins
Marquis (2010-2011): Come Fly Away, Donny and Marie, Wonderland

[nexttotheheights]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 8:02pm

I don't think the Booth had a hit except "Next to Normal" and I think "I'm Not Rappaport". "Sunday in the Park with George" ended up losing money.

[Steel Pier Fan]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 8:04pm

I know this sounds dorky but they have had artistic success.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 8:14pm

But you can't prove "artistic" success, really.

And the theater doesn't "produce anything", they just house it.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 8:39pm

The Marquis is definitely bocked, Wicked could transfer there and the gross would drop by half.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 8:39pm

The Marquis is definitely bocked, Wicked could transfer there and the gross would drop by half.

[Steel Pier Fan]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:20pm

dramamama I agree my saying is : There is no such thing as a bad or good show just those that appeal to many and those appeal to very few.

The Booth Theater has housed productions that have been popular with New York Theatre Critics but weren't exactly smash hits with audiences. The Booth Theater has been lucky enough to house these productions which many critics think have artistic merit in their view.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:41pm

"The 'Hilton/Foxwoods' has never housed a hit, true?"

Erm Hot Feet, best comedy show i ever watched......oh wait, it wasnt a comedy?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:58pm

I don't get why shows don't do well at the Marquis. It's right in the middle of Times Square with all the tourist traffic. What is that theatre like inside? I know it's considered a "barn" of a theatre.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:59pm

Eugene O'Neill for housing Book of Mormon. Seems pretty lucky of them to me.

[Steel Pier Fan]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 10:12pm

bway That might be the problem. It seems like a good location right in Times Square and its big which would make it very expensive. A big theater usually means big show. Expensive show and expensive theater would mean a very expensive show. But when you think about it people buy tickets in advance, especially tourists who think its very hard to get tickets to any Broadway show. Also they don't get very many good shows. Tourists see a show with good word of mouth. ( Wicked,Phantom) or look for critic reviews ( Billy Elliot,Book of Mormon) or with songs they know (Mamma Mia) and if it sounds like a good concept they buy tickets. So if its a show like Wonderland with terrible word of mouth and reviews and isn't familiar they won't see it. That is why I believe the Marquis' shows flop.

[henryt]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:54pm

I would have to say the Majestic. Being occupied by a single show for 23 years has to count for something.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 12:46am

^ I didn't even think of that one! Most definitely! The Majestic is a wonderful theatre as well. Probably my favorite broadway house.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:44pm

I think the Winter Garden has to take this crown !!! Since 1982 it went to the trouble of refurbishing the Theatre and putting up new sets only ONCE in 2001, from Cats to Mamma Mia !!!
As for the Marquis, I've been once inside and I have to say it is way too "modern" and cold, lacking the wonderful old atmosphere of the other Theater houses. But i'm sure it's not that, everything depends on its choice of shows ! Cry-baby, anyone ??? LOL

[Hank]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 4:07pm

I'm amazed at the Winter Garden. After all those years of Cats, and now Mamma Mia with no end in sight.

[Sant]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 3:02pm

I don't know about the "most" part, but the Imperial has had some 'lucky' tenants as well:

SONG OF NORWAY (1944-1946)
CALL ME MADAM (1950-1952)
THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (1956-1957)
OLIVER! (1963-1964)
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1964-1967)
PIPPIN (1972-1977)
DREAMGIRLS (1981-1985)
LES MISERABLES (1990-2003)
THE BOY FROM OZ (2003)
AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY (2007-200
BILLY ELLIOTT (2008- )