Revivals that did better than the original produciton?

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 1:39am

What are some musicals that didn't do so well originally, but were later revived, and do great? There are a few revivals that didn't do so hot (Into the Woods comes to mind) but what about the other way around? Maybe its just my crazy mind subconciously hoping for a successful Lestat revival.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 1:40am

CHICAGO

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 5:51am

I guess if you are looking just in terms of length of run, the '74 Candide (740 performances vs. 73 performances for the '56 original) and the '98 Cabaret (2377 perfs. vs. 1165 for the '66 original) are some other examples. On the play front, the '80 revival of Morning's at Seven ran for 564 performances, while the original production ran for 44 performances. The Threepenny Opera played a mere 12 performances in its Broadway premiere in 1933, but played 2,611 performances in its legendary Off-Broadway revival at the Theatre de Lys/Lucille Lortel.

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 05:51 AM

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 8:51am

Show Boat

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:36am

I should have mentioned Pal Joey. The 1940 production with Gene Kelly and Vivienne Segal got a few chilly reviews, quite significantly from Brooks Atkinson in the NY Times, who admired the skill of the writing and performances, but was put off by the show's acrid tone, concluding his review, "Although Pal Joey is expertly done, can you draw sweet water from a foul well?" He reversed his opinion a mere 12 years later when Pal Joey was revived in 1952 and that production, with Harold Lang and Vivienne Segal once more, was a much bigger hit than the original.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 1:01pm

As Wanna Be A Foster mentioned: CHICAGO.

Bob Fosse's original Broadway production ran from 1975 to 1977.
The Encores! Concert Series concert-style Broadway revival started in 1996 and is still going strong.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 1:01pm

Brian Friel's play FAITH HEALER only lasted 20 performance when it opened in the 70s (earning no Tony nods). Then it was revived last season, opened to positive notices, ran for 117 performances, was nominated for Best Revival of a Play (among other Tony awards), and earned Ian McDiarmind a Tony for his performance. I believe Friel's TRANSLATIONS has more or less a similar history.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 1:24pm

Assassins

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 9:18pm

NO NO NANETTE ran a (very respectable for the time) 321 perfs in 1925, but lasted 861 perfs when revived in 1971.

The original musical version of PETER PAN (Mary Martin, 1954) play a successful engagement of 152 perfs before being telecast live on NBC. (The deal with NBC was in place before the show came to Broadway, so it was rare case where the show was a financial hit even befoire it opened.) The 1979 Sandy Duncan revival played 554 perfs.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 9:52pm

Money wise, this year's Sunday will certainly make more money than the previous. Also, musicals like Oh Calcutta, Gypsy (perhaps not performance wise), and the Rocky Horror Picture show have all made more money when it was revived.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 9:56pm

correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the off-broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along run longer than the original?

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 9:57pm

Sorry, I have to disagree about Chicago. The revival didn't even come close. Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach?? Doesn't get better than that.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:04pm

we're talking about financially, mc1227

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:08pm

oops..........my bad...sorry

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:12pm

Broadway revival started in 1996 and is still going strong.


No, if it was still going strong, they wouldn't feel the need to stunt cast all the time.

Updated On: 4/12/08 at 10:12 PM

[lakezurich]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:13pm

I think you mean stunt cast, spellingbee

[george95]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 11:04pm

Look back at Chicago's grosses. They "stuntcasted" for years when the show still sold out regularly. And yes it is still going strong--it sold 99% of its seats last week.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 11:49pm

but if they didn't stunt cast would the show be doing as well?

[george95]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 5:05am

They have stunt-casted the guy from Dukes of Hazzard all winter and he did nothing for the box office, but spring break came, there were no stunt casters in the show, and it sold 99% of its seats. So stunt casts do not equal better grosses for Chicago. Even when Bebe Neuwirth came back, there were some very lean weeks.

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 10:27am

Wow, "that guy" from Dukes of Hazzard has a name and has made quite a name for himself in legitimate musical theatre. Take the time to know what his name is.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 10:52am

The Cabaret revival lasted longer and made more money than the original, no?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:06am

Smaxie already said that in the third post.

[george95]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 1:31pm

Well thanks to him, I spent the better part of my childhood trying to jump into cars through the window rather than opening the door like he did on Dukes of Hazzard, so no matter how much theater he does, he'll always be The Guy From Dukes of Hazzard : )

[MCfan2]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 3:10pm

He still has a name, regardless. Speaking of Mr. Schneider, there's a cute article here from the NYT about the "Dukes of Broadway," both of whom have now played Billy Flynn: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/fashion/30nite.html (Sorry if it's already been posted, but I haven't seen it here.)

[jpbran]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 5:16pm

Schneider's STILL hot. (Just a random thought.)