Road show cast album- Page 2

[binau]

Posted: 12/3/08 at 7:24pm

Can we please give sources? Someone claims that the only Sondheim show to make a profit was Little night music which is completely contradictory.

Also, I don't think 'recouped many years later' can count with different producers (which again Apparently Sweeney had). In this case, obviously money would have been lost in the OB production and never returned.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 12:18am

I have said many many times the financial status only matters to the backers. I have never heard anyone deciding not to like a show simply because it did not pay off any more than I have heard of someone deciding they like a show because it did pay off.

That said, the two post-Broadway tours of the original SWEENEY TODD were indeed by other producers (Tom Mallow produced the second tour) but were licensed from the original Broadway producers. Variety reported that the TV taping had minimal payout to the producers but they were cut in for a slice of TV and video sales. That income pushed the show into the black.

The 1989 revival was listed as a flop, but Variety had placed the 2005 revival firmly in the hit category months before it closed.


Never assume that a short run means certain financial failure. PETER PAN played 151 performances in 1954/55. Normally a run of that length in 1954 would mean a flop, but this run was a limited engagement because NBC has purchased the broadcast rights for March of 1955. The money they paid meant that even before PETER PAN few into the Winger Garden it was already profitable.

AS for a source, Variety is the best source and they publish the annual lists of hits and flops every June. (I usually summarize it in a message on here.)

There was a book, I believe called The Business of Broadway, which came out in the early 1990s that had charts in the back listing every single musical on Broadway from 1945 to 1991 and its status. (I photocopied the charts but never notated the correct name of the book!!) From that list I compiled the following, updating it to take in shows 1991 to the end of the 2007/2008 season. I took out the obscure and obvious flops (shows like THE GIRL FROM NANTUCKET or last season’s GLORY DAYS) and focused on shows that got some sort of cast album, even if the early shows were just recorded in excerpt form.

Here it is:
OPENED SHOW CAST ALBUM $?

6/3/1931 THE BANDWAGON RCA Victor HIT
5/19/1932 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Brunswick FLOP
10/10/1935 PORGY AND BESS RCA Victor FLOP
10/29/1936 RED HOT AND BLUE Liberty Music Shop HIT
2/9/1939 STARS IN YOUR EYES Liberty Music Shop HIT
10/25/1940 CABIN IN THE SKY Liberty Music Shop HIT
10/30/1940 PANAMA HATTIE Decca HIT
1/23/1941 LADY IN THE DARK RCA Victor HIT
1/22/1942 PORGY AND BESS (Rev) Decca HIT
7/4/1942 THIS IS THE ARMY Decca HIT
3/31/1943 OKLAHOMA! Decca HIT
10/7/1943 ONE TOUCH OF VENUS Decca HIT
11/17/1943 A CONNECTICUT YANKEE (Rev) Decca HIT
12/2/1943 CARMEN JONES Decca HIT
1/28/1944 MEXICAN HAYRIDE Decca HIT
8/21/1944 SONG OF NORWAY Decca HIT
10/5/1944 BLOOMER GIRL Decca HIT
12/27/1944 SING OUT SWEET LAND Decca HIT
1/27/1945 UP IN CENTRAL PARK Decca HIT
4/19/1945 CAROUSEL Decca HIT
10/6/1945 POLONAISE RCA Victor FLOP
10/16/1945 THE RED MIL (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
1/5/1946 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Columbia HIT
2/6/1946 LUTE SONG Decca FLOP
3/30/1946 ST. LOUIS WOMAN Capitol FLOP
4/18/1946 CALL ME MISTER Decca HIT
5/16/1946 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Decca HIT
1/9/1947 STREET SCENE Columbia FLOP
1/10/1947 FINIAN’S RAINBOW Columbia HIT
1/21/1947 SWEETHEARTS (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
3/13/1947 BRIGADOON RCA Victor HIT
10/9/1947 HIGH BUTTON SHOES RCA Victor HIT
10/10/1947 ALLEGRO RCA Victor FLOP
1/29/1948 LOOK MA, I’M DANCIN’ Decca HIT
4/30/1947 INSIDE USA RCA Victor HIT
12/30/1948 KISS ME, KATE Columbia HIT
4/7/1949 SOUTH PACIFIC Columbia HIT
7/15/1949 MISS LIBERTY Columbia FLOP
10/30/1949 LOST IN THE STARS Decca FLOP
11/25/1949 TEXAS LI’L DARLIN’ Decca FLOP
12/8/1949 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES Columbia HIT
2/2/1950 ARMS AND THE GIRL Decca FLOP
3/15/1950 THE CONSUL Decca HIT
4/24/1950 PETER PAN (Bernstein) Columbia FLOP
10/12/1950 CALL ME MADAM RCA Victor & Decca HIT
11/24/1950 GUYS AND DOLLS Decca HIT
12/21/1950 OUT OF THIS WORLD Columbia FLOP
3/29/1951 THE KING AND I Decca HIT
4/18/1951 MAKE A WISH RCA Victor FLOP
4/19/1951 A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN Columbia FLOP
5/14/1951 FLAHOOLEY Capitol FLOP
6/21/1951 SEVENTEEN RCA Victor FLOP
7/19/1951 TWO ON THE AISLE Decca FLOP
10/8/1951 MUSIC IN THE AIR (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
11/1/1951 TOP BANANA Capitol HIT
11/12/1951 PAINT YOUR WAGON RCA Victor FLOP
1/2/1952 PAL JOEY Capitol HIT
3/21/1952 THREE WISHES FOR JAMIE Capitol FLOP
5/5/1952 OF THEE I SONG (Rev) Capitol FLOP
5/16/1952 NEW FACES OF 1952 RCA Victor HIT
6/25/1952 WISH YOU WERE HERE RCA Victor HIT
12/15/1952 TWO’S COMPANY RCA Victor FLOP
2/11/1953 HAZEL FLAGG RCA Victor FLOP
2/25/1953 WONDERFUL TOWN Decca HIT
5/7/1953 CAN-CAN Capitol HIT
5/28/1953 ME AND JULIET RCA Victor HIT
12/3/1953 KISMET Columbia HIT
3/5/1954 THE GIRL IN PINK TIGHTS Columbia FLOP
4/8/1954 BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA Capitol FLOP
4/20/1954 THE GOLDEN APPLE RCA Victor FLOP
5/13/1954 THE PAJAMA GAME Columbia HIT
9/30/1954 THE BOY FRIEND RCA Victor HIT
10/11/1954 ON YOUR TOES (Rev) Decca FLOP
10/20/1954 PETER PAN (Styne, Charlop) RCA Victor HIT
11/4/1954 FANNY RCA Victor HIT
12/27/1954 THE SAINT OF BLEEKER STREET RCA Victor FLOP
12/30/1954 HOUSE OF FLOWERS Columbia FLOP
1/27/1955 PLAIN AND FANCY Capitol HIT
2/24/1955 SILK STOCKINGS RCA Victor HIT
4/18/1955 ANKLES AWEIGH Decca FLOP
5/5/1955 DAMN YANKEES! RCA Victor HIT
5/26/1955 SEVENTH HEAVEN Decca FLOP
11/30/1955 PIPE DREAM RCA Victor FLOP
3/15/1956 MY FAIR LADY Columbia HIT
3/22/1956 MR. WONDERFUL Decca FLOP
5/3/1956 THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Columbia HIT
6/14/1956 NEW FACES OF 1956 RCA Victor FLOP
11/15/1956 LI’L ABNER Columbia HIT
11/29/1956 BELLS ARE RINGING Columbia HIT
12/1/1956 CANDIDE Columbia FLOP
12/6/1956 HAPPY HUNTING RCA Victor FLOP
5/14/1957 NEW GIRL IN TOWN RCA Victor HIT
8/20/1957 SIMPLY HEAVENLY Columbia FLOP
9/26/1957 WEST SIDE STORY Columbia HIT
10/31/1957 JAMAICA RCA Victor HIT
12/19/1957 THE MUSIC MAN Capitol HIT
2/4/1958 OH, CAPTAIN! Columbia FLOP
4/3/1958 SAY, DARLING RCA Victor FLOP
10/11/1958 GOLDILOCKS Columbia FLOP
12/1/1958 FLOWER DRUM SONG Columbia HIT
12/22/1958 WHOOP-UP MgM FLOP
12/23/1958 A PARTY WITH COMDEN AND GREEN Capitol HIT
2/5/1959 REDHEAD RCA Victor HIT
3/9/1959 JUNO Columbia FLOP
3/19/1959 FIRST IMPRESSIONS Columbia HIT
4/23/1959 DESTRY RIDES AGAIN Decca FLOP
5/12/1959 THE NERVOUS SET Columbia FLOP
5/21/1959 GYPSY Columbia HIT
10/22/1959 TAKE ME ALONG RCA Victor FLOP
11/16/1959 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Columbia HIT
11/23/1959 FIORELLO Capitol HIT
11/25/1959 ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Kapp HIT
12/7/1959 SARATOGA RCA Victor FLOP
3/8/1960 GREENWILLOW RCA Victor FLOP
4/16/1960 BYE BYE BIRDIE Columbia HIT
4/28/1960 CHRISTINE Columbia FLOP
5/23/1960 FINIAN’S RAINBOW (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
9/29/1960 IRMA LA DOUCE Columbia HIT
10/17/1960 TENDERLOIN Capitol FLOP
11/3/1960 THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN Capitol HIT
12/3/1960 CAMELOT Columbia HIT
12/16/1960 WILDCAT RCA Victor FLOP
12/26/1960 DO RE MI RCA Victor FLOP
1/12/1961 SHOW GIRL Roulette HIT
4/3/1961 THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD Columbia FLOP
4/13/1961 CARNIVAL! MgM HIT
5/18/1961 DONNYBROOK Kapp FLOP
10/3/1961 SAIL AWAY Capitol FLOP
10/10/1961 MILK AND HONEY RCA Victor FLOP
10/12/1961 LET IT RIDE RCA Victor FLOP
10/14/1961 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS… RCA Victor HIT
10/23/1961 KWAMINA Capitol FLOP
11/2/1961 KEAN Columbia FLOP
11/18/1961 THE GAY LIFE Capitol FLOP
12/27/1961 SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING Columbia FLOP
1/27/1962 A FAMILY AFFAIR United Artsits FLOP
3/15/1962 NO STRINGS Capitol HIT
3/19/1962 ALL AMERICAN Columbia FLOP
3/22/1962 I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE Columbia FLOP
5/8/1962 A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…FORUM Capitol HIT
5/19/1962 BRAVO GIOVANNI Columbia FLOP
10/3/1962 STOP THE WORLD, I WANT TO GET OFF London HIT
10/20/1962 MR. PRESIDENT Columbia FLOP
11/17/1962 LITTLE ME RCA Victor FLOP
1/6/1963 OLIVER! RCA Victor HIT
3/18/1963 TOVARICH Capitol FLOP
4/23/1963 SHE LOVES ME MgM FLOP
10/3/1963 HERE’S LOVE Columbia FLOP
10/17/1963 JENNIE RCA Victor FLOP
10/24/1963 110 IN THE SHADE RCA Victor HIT
12/8/1963 THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER Columbia FLOP
1/16/1964 HELLO DOLLY! RCA Victor HIT
2/27/1964 WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN Columbia FLOP
3/26/1964 FUNNY GIRL Capitol HIT
4/4/1964 ANYONE CAN WHISTLE Columbia FLOP
4/17/1964 HIGH SPIRITS Abc FLOP
5/26/1964 FADE OUT-FADE IN Abc FLOP
9/22/1964 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF RCA Victor HIT
10/20/1964 GOLDEN BOY Capitol FLOP
10/27/1964 BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS Capitol FLOP
11/23/1964 BAJOUR Columbia FLOP
12/15/1964 I HAD A BALL Mercury FLOP
2/16/1965 BAKER STREET MgM FLOP
3/18/1965 DO I HEAR A WALTZ? Columbia FLOP
4/25/1965 HALF A SIXPENCE RCA Victor HIT
5/11/1965 FLORA, THE RED MENACE RCA Victor FLOP
5/16/1965 THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT… RCA Victor HIT
10/17/1965 ON A CLEAR DAY… RCA Victor FLOP
11/13/1965 SKYSCRAPER Capitol FLOP
11/22/1965 MAN OF LA MANCHA Kapp HIT
11/29/1965 ANYA United Artists FLOP
1/29/1966 SWEET CHARITY Columbia HIT
3/7/1966 WAIT A MINIM! London HIT
3/29/1966 IT’S A BIRD! IT’S … SUPERMAN Columbia FLOP
5/24/1966 MAME Columbia HIT
9/21/1966 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
10/18/1966 THE APPLE TREE Columbia FLOP
11/20/1966 CABARET Columbia HIT
11/26/1966 WALKING HAPPY Capitol FLOP
12/5/1966 I DO! I DO! RCA Victor HIT
4/11/1967 ILLYA DARLING United Artists FLOP
4/26/1967 HALLELUJAH, BABY! Columbia FLOP
10/23/1967 HENRY, SWEET HENRY Abc FLOP
12/7/1967 HOW NOW DOW JONES RCA Victor FLOP
1/18/1968 THE HAPPY TIME RCA Victor FLOP
1/27/1968 DARLING OF THE DAY RCA Victor FLOP
2/4/1968 GOLDEN RAINBOW Calendar FLOP
4/10/1968 GEORGE M! Columbia FLOP
4/29/1968 HAIR RCA Victor HIT
5/2/1968 NEW FACES OF 1968 Warner Bros FLOP
10/23/1968 MAGGIE FLYNN RCA Victor FLOP
11/17/1968 ZORBA Capitol FLOP
12/1/1968 PROMISES PROMISES United Artists HIT
1/22/1969 CELEBRATION Capitol FLOP
2/3/1969 CANTERBURY TALES Capitol FLOP
2/6/1969 DEAR WORLD Columbia FLOP
3/16/1969 1776 (SEVENTEEN SEVENTY SIX) Columbia HIT
10/23/1969 JIMMY RCA Victor FLOP
12/18/1969 COCO Paramount FLOP
3/15/1970 PURLIE Ampex FLOP
3/26/1970 MINNIE’S BOYS Project 3 FLOP
3/30/1970 APPLAUSE Abc HIT
4/8/1970 CRY FOR US ALL Project 3 FLOP
4/14/1970 THE BOY FRIEND (Rev) Decca FLOP
4/26/1970 COMPANY Columbia HIT
10/19/1970 THE ROTHSCHILDS Columbia FLOP
11/10/1970 TWO BY TWO Columbia FLOP
12/18/1970 THE ME NOBODY KNOWS Atlantic HIT
1/19/1971 NO NO NANETTE (Rev) Columbia HIT
4/4/1971 FOLLIES Capitol FLOP
4/15/1970 70, GIRLS, 70 Columbia FLOP
5/5/1971 EARL OF RUSTON Capitol FLOP
6/1/1971 YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CH. BROWN MgM FLOP
10/12/1971 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Decca HIT
10/20/1971 AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE… A&m FLOP
10/21/1971 TO LIVE ANOTEHR SUMMER… Buddah FLOP
12/1/1971 TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Abc HIT
12/19/1971 INNER CITY RCA Victor FLOP
2/14/1972 GREASE MgM HIT
4/9/1972 SUGAR United Artists HIT
4/19/1972 DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’T COPE Polydor HIT
10/9/1972 DUDE Kilmarnock FLOP
10/19/1972 MOTHER EARTH Environmental FLOP
10/22/1972 PIPPIN Motown HIT
2/25/1973 A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Columbia HIT
3/13/1973 IRENE (Rev) Columbia FLOP
3/18/1973 SEESAW Buddah FLOP
5/13/1973 CYRANO A&m FLOP
10/18/1973 RAISIN Columbia FLOP
11/13/1973 GIGI RCA Victor FLOP
1/27/1974 LORELEI MgM FLOP
3/5/1974 CANDIDE (Rev) Columbia FLOP
3/6/1974 OVER HERE! Columbia FLOP
5/28/1974 THE MAGIC SHOW Bell HIT
9/23/1974 GYPSY (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
10/6/1974 MACK AND MABEL ABC FLOP
1/5/1975 THE WIZ Atlantic HIT
1/7/1975 SHENANDOAH RCA Red Seal HIT
3/3/1975 GOODTIME CHARLEY RCA Red Seal FLOP
6/1/1975 CHICAGO Arista HIT
6/25/1975 A CHORUS LINE Columbia HIT
10/21/1975 TREEMONISHA Dgg FLOP
12/21/1975 VERY GOOD EDDIE Drg HIT
1/11/1976 PACIFIC OVERTURES RCA Red Seal FLOP
3/2/1976 BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR H&L HIT
3/25/1976 MY FAIR LADY (Rev) Columbia FLOP
4/25/1976 REX RCA Red Seal FLOP
4/27/1976 SO LONG 174th STREET Original Cast FLOP
6/22/1976 GODSPELL (Tr. From Obway) Bell HIT
7/21/1976 GUYS AND DOLLS (Rev) Motown FLOP
7/22/1976 LET MY PEOPLE COME (Tr. From Obway) Libra FLOP
9/25/1976 PORGY AND BESS (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
10/9/1976 THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM Csp FLOP
12/22/1976 YOUR ARM’S TOO SHORT … GOD Abs HIT
1/12/1977 IPI-TOMBI Ashtree FLOP
2/10/1977 A PARTY WITH COMDEN … (Rev) Drg FLOP
4/17/1977 I LOVE MY WIFE Atlantic HIT
4/21/1977 ANNIE Columbia HIT
5/2/1977 THE KING AND I (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
5/31/1977 BEATLEMANIA Arista HIT
10/29/1977 THE ACT Drg HIT
2/19/1978 ON THE 20TH CENTURY Columbia FLOP
5/9/1978 AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ RCA Red Seal HIT
5/13/1978 RUNAWAYS Columbia FLOP
5/14/1978 WORKING Columbia FLOP
6/19/1978 THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE… Mca HIT
12/14/1978 BALLROOM Columbia FLOP
1/11/1979 THE GRAND TOUR Columbia FLOP
2/11/1979 THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG Casablanca HIT
3/1/1979 SWEENEY TODD RCA Red Seal HIT
4/8/1979 CARMELINA Original Cast FLOP
5/31/1979 I REMEMBER MAMA Ter FLOP
6/13/1979 THE MADWOMAN OF CP WEST Drg FLOP
9/25/1979 EVITA MCA HIT
10/8/1979 SUGAR BABIES B'way East HIT
12/13/1979 OKLAHOMA! (Rev) RCA Red Seal FLOP
4/30/1980 BARNUM Columbia HIT
5/1/1980 A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/UKRAINE Drg HIT
8/25/1980 42nd STREET RCA Red Seal HIT
12/14/1980 ONWARD VICTORIA Original Cast FLOP
1/8/1981 THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Elektra HIT
3/1/1981 SOPHISTICATED LADIES RCA Red Seal HIT
3/5/1981 BRING BACK BIRDIE Original Cast FLOP
3/29/1981 WOMAN OF THE YEAR Arista FLOP
5/12/1981 LENA HORNE: THE LADY & HER MUSIC Atlantic HIT
11/10/1981 OH, BROTHER Original Cast FLOP
11/16/1981 MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG RCA Red Seal FLOP
12/20/1981 DREAMGIRLS Geffen HIT
1/27/1982 JOSEPH…DREAMCOAT Chrysallis HIT
2/4/1982 PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES Columbia HIT
5/7/1982 IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGHSCHOOL Original Cast FLOP
5/9/1982 NINE Columbia HIT
5/27/1982 DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES… Csp FLOP
9/23/1982 A DOLL’S LIFE Original Cast FLOP
10/7/1982 CATS Geffen HIT
3/6/1983 ON YOUR TOES (Rev) Ter HIT
5/1/1983 MY ONE AND ONLY Atlantic HIT
5/11/1983 DANCE A LITTLE CLOSER Ibr FLOP
8/21/1983 LA CAGE AUX FOLLES RCA Red Seal HIT
10/16/1983 ZORBA (Rev) RCA Red Seal HIT
11/21/1983 DOONSBURY Mca FLOP
12/4/1983 BABY Ter FLOP
12/21/1983 THE TAP DANCE KID Ter FLOP
2/9/1984 THE RINK Ter FLOP
4/5/1984 THE HUMAN COMEDY Original Cast FLOP
5/2/1984 SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE RCA Red Seal FLOP
4/8/1985 LEADER OF THE PACK Elektra FLOP
4/16/1985 GRIND Ter FLOP
4/25/1985 BIG RIVER Mca HIT
9/18/1985 SONG AND DANCE RCA Red Seal FLOP
12/2/1985 THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Polydor FLOP
12/18/1985 JERRY’S GIRLS Ter FLOP
4/27/1986 SWEET CHARITY Emi FLOP
8/10/1986 ME AND MY GIRL Mca HIT
8/21/1986 RAGS Sony FLOP
3/12/1987 LES MISERABLES Geffen HIT
10/15/1987 LATE NIGHT COMIC Original Cast FLOP
10/19/1987 ANYTHING GOES (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
11/5/1987 INTO THE WOODS RCA Victor HIT
4/28/1988 CHESS RCA Victor FLOP
5/1/1988 ROMANCE/ROMANCE Mca FLOP
12/26/1988 LEGS DIAMOND RCA Victor FLOP
1/26/1989 BLACK AND BLUE Drg FLOP
2/26/1989 JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY RCA Victor FLOP
4/27/1989 STARMITES Original Cast FLOP
11/2/1989 MEET ME IN ST LOUIS Drg FLOP
11/2/1989 GRAND HOTEL RCA Victor HIT
11/16/1989 GYPSY (Rev) Elektra HIT
12/11/1989 CITY OF ANGELS Columbia HIT

10/18/1990 ONCE ON THIS ISLAND RCA Victor HIT
4/25/1991 THE SECRET GARDEN Columbia FLOP
5/1/1991 THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES Columbia HIT
12/8/1991 NICK AND NORA Ter FLOP
2/13/1992 THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
2/19/1992 CRAZY FOR YOU Angel HIT
4/8/1992 FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE Columbia FLOP
4/14/1992 GUYS AND DOLLS RCA Victor HIT
4/26/1992 JELLY’S LAST JAM Mercury FLOP
12/10/1992 MY FAVORITE YEAR RCA Victor FLOP
3/4/1993 THE GOODBYE GIRL Columbia FLOP
4/22/1993 TOMMY RCA Victor HIT
4/25/1993 BLOOD BROTHERS Attic FLOP
4/3/1993 KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Mercury FLOP
6/10/1993 SHE LOVES ME (Rev) Varese Sarabande FLOP
3/3/1994 DAMN YANKEES! (Rev) Mercury FLOP
3/24/1994 CAROUSEL (Rev) Angel HIT
4/18/1994 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Disney HIT
5/9/1994 PASSION Angel FLOP
5/10/1994 THE BEST LITTLE WHOREH…PUBLIC Varese Sarabande FLOP
5/11/1994 GREASE (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
10/2/1994 SHOW BOAT (Rev) Livent HIT
11/17/1994 SUNSET BOULEVARD Polydor FLOP
3/2/1995 SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ Atlantic HIT
3/23/1995 HOW TO SUCCEED… (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/10/1995 GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (Rev) Drg FLOP
10/5/1995 COMPANY (Rev) Angel nc
10/19/1995 HELLO DOLLY (Rev) Varese Sarabande HIT
10/22/1995 SWINGIN’ ON A STAR After 9 FLOP
10/25/1995 VICTOR/VICTORIA Phillips FLOP
3/27/1996 STATE FAIR Drg FLOP
4/11/1996 THE KING AND I (Rev) Varese Sarabande FLOP
4/18/1996 A FUNNY THING… (Rev) Angel HIT
4/28/1996 BIG Universal FLOP
4/29/1996 RENT Dreamworks HIT
11/14/1996 CHICAGO RCA Victor HIT
12/19/1996 ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
3/20/1997 PLAY ON Varese Sarabande FLOP
4/23/1997 TITANIC RCA Victor FLOP
4/24/1997 STEEL PIER RCA Victor FLOP
4/26/1997 THE LIFE Sony FLOP
4/28/1997 JEKYLL AND HYDE Atlantic FLOP
4/29/2297 CANDIDE (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
5/18/1997 KING DAVID Disney HIT
8/14/1997 1776 (Rev) Tvt FLOP
10/16/1997 SIDE SHOW Sony FLOP
10/23/1997 TRIUMPH OF LOVE Ter FLOP
11/9/1997 THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL Atlantic FLOP
11/13/1997 THE LION KING Disney HIT
1/18/1998 RAGTIME RCA Victor FLOP
3/12/1998 THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
3/19/1998 CABARET (Rev) RCA Victor HIT
4/27/1998 HIGH SOCIETY Drg FLOP
10/22/1998 FOOTLOOSE Atlantic FLOP
11/12/1998 LITTLE ME Varese Sarabande FLOP
12/17/1998 PARADE RCA Victor FLOP
1/14/1999 FOSSE RCA Victor HIT
2/4/1999 YOU’RE A GOOD MAN… (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/4/1998 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Angel HIT
11/18/1999 KISS ME, KATE (Rev) DRG HIT
12/2/1999 MARIE CHRISTINE RCA Victor FLOP
12/9/1999 SWING! Sony FLOP
3/23/2000 AIDA Disney HIT
4/27/2000 THE MUSIC MAN Atlantic FLOP
10/26/2000 THE FULL MONTY RCA Victor HIT
11/15/2000 THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
11/30/2000 SEUSSICAL Decca FLOP
12/10/2000 JANE EYRE Sony FLOP
3/11/2000 A CLASS ACT RCA Victor FLOP
4/12/2001 BELLS ARE RINGING (Rev) Fynsworth Alley FLOP
4/19/2001 THE PRODUCERS Sony HIT
5/2/2001 42ND STREET (Rev) Atlantic FLOP
9/20/2001 URINETOWN RCA Victor HIT
10/25/2001 THOU SHALT NOT Private N/C
10/28/2001 BY JEEVES Polydor FLOP
2/17/2002 BEA ARTHUR ON BROADWAY Drg HIT
2/21/2002 ELAINE STRITCH AT LIBERTY Drg HIT
3/14/2002 SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Sony FLOP
4/18/2002 THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/30/2002 INTO THE WOODS (Rev) Nonesuch FLOP
8/15/2002 HAIRSPRAY Sony HIT
10/17/2002 FLOWER DRUM SONG (Rev) Drg FLOP
10/20/2002 AMOUR Sh-k-boom FLOP
10/24/2002 MOVIN’ OUT Sony HIT
12/5/2002 MAN OF LA MANCHA (Rev) RCA Victor FLOP
4/10/2003 NINE PS Classics HIT
4/13/2003 A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD PS Classics FLOP
5/1/2003 GYPSY (Rev) Angel FLOP
7/31/2003 AVENUE Q RCA Victor HIT
10/2/2003 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Drg FLOP
10/16/2003 THE BOY FROM OZ Decca HIT
10/30/2003 WICKED Decca HIT
11/13/2003 TABOO Drg FLOP
11/23/2003 WONDERFUL TOWN Drg FLOP
2/26/2004 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Rev) PS Classics FLOP
4/22/2004 ASSASSINS (Rev) PS Classics N/C
4/29/2004 BOMBAY DREAMS Sony FLOP
5/2/2004 CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Hollywood FLOP
7/22/2004 THE FROGS PS Classics N/C
12/2/2004 PACIFIC OVERTURES PS Classics N/C
1/23/2005 LITTLE WOMEN Ghostlight FLOP
3/3/2005 DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Ghostlight FLOP
3/17/2005 SPAMALOT Decca HIT
3/24/2005 ALL SHOOK UP Masterworks Broadway FLOP
4/18/2005 THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Nonesuch N/C
5/2/2005 THE 25TH … SPELLING BEE Ghostlight HIT
5/4/2005 SWEET CHARITY (Rev) Drg FLOP
-11/3/2005 SWEENEY TODD (Rev) Nonesuch HIT
11/6/2005 JERSEY BOYS Atlantic HIT
12/1/2005 THE COLOR PURPLE Angel HIT
2/23/2006 THE PAJAMA GAME Columbia HIT
4/27/2006 THE WEDDING SINGER Masterworks Broadway FLOP
5/1/2006 THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Ghostlight HIT
5/10/2006 TARZAN Disney FLOP
4/17/2006 FAME BECOMES ME Ghostlight FLOP
10/5/2006 A CHORUS LINE (Rev) Masterworks Broadway HIT
11/2/2006 GREY GARDENS PS Classics FLOP
11/.29/2006 COMPANY (Rev) Nonesuch FLOP
12/10/2006 SPRING AWAKENING Decca HIT
3/22/2007 CURTAINS Angel FLOP
4/5/2007 THE PIRATE QUEEN Masterworks Broadway FLOP
5/3/2007 LOVEMUSIK Ghostlight N/C
5/9/2007 110 IN THE SHADE (Rev) PS Classics N/C
7/10/2007 XANADU PS Classics FLOP
8/19/2007 GREASE (Rev) Masterworks Broadway ?

11/8/2007 YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Decca ?
1/10/2008 THE LITTLE MERMAID Disney ?
2/21/2008 SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE PS Classics N/C
2/28/2008 PASSING STRANGE FLOP
3/9/2008 IN THE HEIGHTS Ghostlight ?
3/27/2008 GYPSY (Rev) Time-Life ?
4/3/2008 SOUTH PACIFIC Masterworks Broadway ?
4/17/2008 CATERED AFFAIR PS Classics FLOP

[binau]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 1:10am

Does anyone know how much it costs to produce a cast album? I remember reading that someone had read something about costs/what it takes and I wonder if there is more information on this.

[bk]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 1:37am

For a new show with new orchestrations and a substantial orchestra and cast, it can cost anywhere from $300,000 to $450,000.

For a revival with a smaller band but new orchestrations and a medium-sized cast, anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000.

Something like Xanadu with its two or three person orchestra might still cost over $100,000. The fixed costs are rather astonishing:

Actors (one week of Equity salary they are making, unless they go over their eight accumulated hours - if it goes into another day, it's another half-week's salary). However, if they sing an amount of material that would put them in a payment category more than their week's salary, then AFTRA rates kick in and they get paid THAT. I personally think that stinks and have fought it forever. I told both unions to get in the ring and duke it out and tell me who's the winner, because it should be one or the other, not both.

Musicians - depends on how many "sessions" the recording takes - no matter how many minutes you record in a "session" (three hours) only fifteen minutes per session is usable. Also archaic and stupid. So, if you have a sixty-minute cast album, that's four sessions even if you record it in three.

Orchestrator - gets his entire salary over again. Sometimes one thinks one is in the wrong line of work.

Copyist - gets copying fees

Conductor - some conductors like Paul Gemignani have large fees built into their contracts for recordings

Company Manager, Stage Manager and a few others of their ilk all get a week's salary.

Studio for recording, studio for mixing, engineers and assistants for both.

Pressing and printing costs.

It ain't cheap, which is why most labels today don't pay for the albums - the producers build the album costs into their budgets. This is a fairly new happening with B'way shows - it began with Amour, which I was going to do but unfortunately had not quite started my new label yet - I did the budget for it, figured out the deal, and then the album went to another label for the reasons I stated, and that label and several others then adopted that business model and the rest is history.

Some details may have changed in the last couple of years, but as of a couple of years ago, those were the costs.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 9:21pm

If the album costs are paid for by the production, does the producton own the recording? If the releasing label deletes it can they shop it to anotehr label? Also, do the labels pay anything up front to get the album in their catalogue?

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 9:51pm

bk & frontrowcentre2-

You two are such wonderful resources! Thank you for the valuable information you offer regarding cast recordings and other related subjects. It really is appreciated.

[theatre2]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 10:45pm

frontcener some of those shows get cast lp made of them how can we get them to be put on cd like inner city and let it ride they should be on cd.

[bk]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 11:05pm

Frontrow - yes, if the producers pay they own the album and the label basically takes a distribution fee, probably 30% or thereabouts, depending on how tough the producers are. It's a no lose situation for the label - they make money without putting any out. Very different from the 1990s and before, when it was unheard of for a producer to put up the dough for these things. I WISH the producer had put up the dough for some of what we did, like Bells Are Ringing or Play On - unbelievably expensive and total losers, sales-wise. Thankfully, it wasn't MY money. :) Then again, Dolly did incredibly well for us, as did The King and I. However, amusingly, the biggest selling cast album I did was the least expensive - I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Nothing like a ten-year run and productions all over the place to keep something selling well.

The days of bidding wars where advances might actually be paid to the producers is, of course, over forever. I remember the bidding war on Big, The Musical. We were all in it - I dropped out instantly, because I saw the show and knew it was headed in the toilet. Decca paid an advance and the album had a HUGE recording budget and lost, I believe, almost every penny. Oh, well.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 1:32am

Didn't Decca reissue Big? Was this an attempt to recoup the lost money?

Bk, I'm curious, what was your highest selling solo recording?

[bk]

Posted: 12/8/08 at 2:56am

I think the biggest selling solo album was Michelle Nicastro's Toonful - the right album at the right time - it sold over fifty thousand copies, which for our little world was extraordinary. Laurie Beechman's Andrew Lloyd Webber CD was second - it sold about thirty-five thousand. The only other solo artist to top ten-thousand was Liz Callaway and her first two albums.

Posted: 12/10/08 at 5:55am

How sad that Debbie Shapiro's magnificent Menken album didn't sell better--I never got the reissue with the added songs but it, along with Unsung Sondheim and to a slightly lesser degree Sondheim at the Movies were such important and fave albums of mine as a teen. I'm also pretty thankful for your work, bk, on the Merrily York production--one of my fave cast albums.
Updated On: 12/10/08 at 05:55 AM

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 1:43pm

I enjoyed the show but don't think it is commercially viable (especially not B'way). Would LOVE a cast albumn from this production though.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/10/08 at 2:47pm

Someone on ATC said they asked Alex Gemignani at the stage door and he said Sondheim and Weidman really want to record this version of the show but so far no one is biting.

If its this difficult to get a revised Sondheim show recorded, I think chances for a transfer are completely nil.

[binau]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:27pm

*bump* any news now that the show has closed?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 11:09pm

I really wanted to see it again before it closed. It had some really great music in it. Oh well, I hope it gets a recording eventually, even with a diff cast. I didn't much care for this Hollis' vocals.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 11:27pm

I don't think there's going to be a cast album, and that really makes me sad. The cast was amazing, but Michael Cerveris and Alex Gemignani were BRILLIANT.

[bk]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 1:17pm

When I talked to Sondheim after I saw the show, I asked him about a recording. He said they were in talks about it. I told him to call me if the talks didn't work out. Haven't heard from him, so maybe the talks are ongoing. But if the producers aren't willing to foot at least a good portion of the bill, I don't think it's going to happen. But, you never really know until you know.

[willrogers2008]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 1:29pm

And a PBS broadcast ? Are there talking about it ?

[jv92]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 1:45pm

Well, the show closed already. There will be no PBS broadcast.

[binau]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 6:46pm

Well they brought the ITW and Sunday casts back to film didn't they? But I can't see this being filmed, I just hope for an album :P. Isn't Sondheim very wealthy? I don't see why he wouldn't just fund it himself.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/1/09 at 3:21am

No, actually. WOODS was taped while it was still running (May 1989) with 2-3 original cast members returning for that week of performances. SUDAY was taped a few days after it closed but the plans to do so were made long before the closing performance.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 11:40am

It's being recorded next week, a cast member told me.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 12:50pm

I can hardly wait.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 1:37pm

What label? Nonesuch or PS Classics?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 3:59pm

Oh I didn't ask. I actually didn't ask about the recording, he just sort of told me, and I said "oh, good to know."