Much Anticipated Musicals That Crashed & Burned - Big Time — Page 4

I would absolutely count Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark. Even if it didn't have concrete anticipation behind it ala "Wow, I'm sure this show will be great!..", it most certainly had massive names (Taymor, Bono & The Edge) behind it and was being heavily publicized as (one of) the most expensive shows to ever open on Broadway. It certainly had a unique path to NYC, but it's most definitely made a name for itself as being the 21st Century Broadway-sh*tshow. Even if it ran for months on end, I wouldn't particularly count it as a successful show. I suppose the industry just had lots to learn from it's run.

Also had a moderately fair run, but the recent Charlie and the Chocolate Factory transfer from the West End sticks out in my mind. I use the word "transfer" lightly, it felt like a completely different production. I will never understand why the creative team took as many artistic liberties to dumb the show down to the point that they did- and why the producers let so many changes happen.

Shuffle Along shuffled along in an unexpected hurry.

Updated On: 6/22/19 at 06:37 AM

I feel like maybe Be More Chill counts?  It was the first test of a social experiment to see if viral-ness translated into ticket sales, and it's closing before Labor Day.

Bullets over Broadway. EVERYONE thought it would be the next huge hit. Like Producers big. 
It lost its whole investment. 

massofmen said: "Bullets over Broadway. EVERYONE thought it would be the next huge hit. Like Producers big.
It lost its whole investment."

I know I am in the VAST VAST minority here, but I LOVED Bullets Over Broadway.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Groundhog Day, Catch Me If You Can, Bullets Over Broadway. Big screen-to-stage adaptations of beloved IP with prestigious creative teams that looked like big hits on paper but didn't last a year in NY.

I really don't think Be More Chill belongs on this list. Sure, it's a big flop, but I wouldn't say it was "much anticipated": It was a first-time Broadway creative team, it got awful reviews off-Broadway, the producers and theatre owners took a risk to transfer it, and it tanked, but is only a $9mil loss compared to the much higher budgets for the shows above. It's more in line with shows like Bright Star, Bloody Bloody AJ, Head Over Heels, and Amelie.

Re: the Addams Family post --- yes it got awful reviews and wasn't profitable on Broadway, but it came close to recouping in NY, the tour did well, and it eventually made profit with international productions and stock/amateur licensing. Not a juggernaut, but also not a King Kong.

bwayphreak234 said: "massofmen said: "Bullets over Broadway. EVERYONE thought it would be the next huge hit. Like Producers big.
It lost its whole investment."

I know I am in the VAST VAST minority here, but I LOVED Bullets Over Broadway."

Me three!

Ohhh Chess. Trampled by Phantom and Into the Woods. Judy Kuhn, David Carroll : it doesn’t get better. I saw it the Saturday matinee Tony weekend. The mezzanine/ balcony audience were all seated at the sides (was the show hoping for group sales?), the lights dimmed and everyone ran to better seats. I still remember the “bravos” in the house for Quintet. Regardless of the swirling monoliths and the brown costumes, David Carroll And Judy, Judy Judy: once she’s on stage, she sang and sang and sang and sang, for my money, one of the most challenging roles ever. I just cherish it so much.

Updated On: 6/24/19 at 11:52 AM