Popular revival musicals that will fall into obscurity

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:16am

Does anyone have thoughts about shows that are common to revive now that will eventually stop?

 

For example what is the longevity of Rodgers and Hammerstein going forward do we think?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:24am

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "Does anyone have thoughts about shows that are common to revive now that will eventually stop?



For example what is the longevity of Rodgersand Hammerstein going forward do we think?"

I'm really hoping producers weren't scared off by the audience reception to Daniel Fish's Oklahoma, but I imagine productions like that are the only way we're realistically going to see R+H's work on Broadway going forward. Give me a stripped down, gritty Carousel that addresses the domestic violence issues already.

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:28am

R&H is by no means obscure but they already aren't performed nearly as often in regional/community/high school theaters as they were 20 years ago. 

I still think many of them will still get a Broadway revival every 20-30 years but shows like Oklahoma and South Pacific already aren't the staples they once were. Same with shows like The Pajama Game, Brigadoon, Lil Abner, Annie Get Your Gun - all once staples that are not done nearly as much anymore.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:39am

A lot of that obviously has to do with the number of musicals written since those shows were done, so it makes sense that newer shows will replace a lot of the older ones on standard rotation. It’s the natural cycle of these things but I think because there are popular film versions of so many of those classic shows, there will always be a desire to revisit them (in some way), just probably not as often as before. 

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:54am

I think this also has to do with generations:

The generations who lived to see golden age of broadway shows are basically gone. The wealthy elderly consistent theatre ticket buyer is basically gone

Boomers who grew up with records of classic broadway shows are your base but there’s no guarantee they can keep these shows open and also they’re aging 

Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z as a whole ultimately see these shows as niche and old school and it’s theatre nerds from these generations that ultimately show up.

 

So maybe that was our last Broadway “King and I” 


 

 

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 11:59am

Jordan Catalano said: "A lot of that obviously has to do with the number of musicals written since those shows were done, so it makes sense that newer shows will replace a lot of the older ones on standard rotation. It’s the natural cycle of these things but I think because there are popular film versions of so many of those classic shows, there will always be a desire to revisit them (in some way), just probably not as often as before."


I think the only Rodgers and Hammerstein films though that new people are actively still watching are The Sound of Music and the Brandy Cinderella.

 

The Shirley Jones ones are TCM fare that will only become more niche. 

And what’s interesting about the Sound of Music popularity is- it’s about Julie Andrews and Austria and the film itself. We don’t see trends of people clamoring to see it onstage again.

Updated On: 7/8/25 at 11:59 AM

[BwayLB]

Posted: 7/8/25 at 2:19pm

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "
I think this also has to do with generations:

The generations who lived to see golden age of broadway showsare basically gone. The wealthy elderly consistent theatre ticket buyer is basically gone

Boomers who grew up with records of classic broadway shows are your base but there’s no guarantee they can keep these shows open and also they’re aging

Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z as a whole ultimately see these shows as niche and old school and it’s theatre nerds from these generations that ultimately show up.



So maybe that was our last Broadway “King and I”




"

I’m a millennial who likes a bit of both classics and contemporary musicals

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 3:10am

I can't help but believe that those who pursue a career in theater will always have an artistic sensibility that will appreciate the classics and what they brought to theater. 

And I would like to hope that those who attend the theater as audience members will always have that same appreciation and embrace the occasional revival of the classics.

I was watching a video of The Will Rogers Follies on YouTube last night.  The entire show with the OBC and filmed for Japanese television apparently.  I 

I found myself wondering if the show would ever see a revival for the first time. 

I know many felt it didn't deserve the Tony being up against Saigon, Once On This Island and the Secret Garden.   But seeing it again, I thought it was a great show with great music. Set and costume design were awesome.  The performances outstanding.  And just a clever execution of the whole vaudeville format in retelling the life of Will Rogers.

I guess the problem with TWRF is that Will Rogers is too far behind us now, so would even a first time revival of such a show ever come to pass.   His messages, even from hundred years ago, are still timely though. 

If it did, I would guess its revival would probably fall into obscurity.  Chances of it being revived are probably pretty slim as it is, much less reviving it and THEN questioning if it would ever see another revival. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 3:13am

I would not be surprised if we just saw the last revival of Gypsy with Audra.