Popular revival musicals that will fall into obscurity

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.

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.

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

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

After three consecutive commercial failures in this century, that’s certainly possible. The next Gypsy revival would probably be at a nonprofit. But there’s always the possibility that some major star - not just a Broadway star, because that’s not enough - would want to take a crack at it in 15 or 20 years.

By then, the musical will be more than 80 years old.

In 12 years, the R&H collaborations begin entering the public domain. And that’s going to be a really interesting thing. They will probably be treated differently than something like Gilbert & Sullivan.

Every high school and community group in America might do OKLAHOMA in their 2038 season!

Get Bart sher to do a production of Oklahoma at LCT, it would be gorgeous. Maybe when it becomes public domaine, aren’t they doing that with Show Boat?