Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success- Page 2
Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#25
Posted: 5/9/07 at 11:55pm
I know, I was totally in the minority.
Congratulations to your friend!
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#26
Posted: 5/10/07 at 12:29amGee... what a pal.
Stand-by Joined: 3/3/06
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#27
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:46am
After reading the out of town reviews.....
WICKED
WICKED
WICKED
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#28
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:57am
Agreed with Jeckyl--when even much of the fanbase is bitching about the current version of a show (nearly everyone prefering the original tour) yet it ran and ran...
"It was impossible for Piazza to flop, as it was a not-for-profit production. "
True in a sense but I think what others meant--and what I meant certainly was that we didn't expect it to be the relative hit it was--running solidly a little over year. It was a happy surprise.
E
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#28
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:57am
Agreed with Jeckyl--when even much of the fanbase is bitching about the current version of a show (nearly everyone prefering the original tour) yet it ran and ran...
"It was impossible for Piazza to flop, as it was a not-for-profit production. "
True in a sense but I think what others meant--and what I meant certainly was that we didn't expect it to be the relative hit it was--running solidly a little over year. It was a happy surprise.
E
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#30
Posted: 5/10/07 at 4:00am
Well just remember all the insiders who predicted AWAY WE GO (later OKLAHOMA!) would flop.
They all said ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was in serious trouble and never mind that pr stuff about a girder in the theatre breaking.
They were sure nobody could turn Shaw's PYGMALION into a successful musical.
And remember all those people who though a musical of Little Orphan Annie was the worst idea they ever heard.
Hey, if anyone could accurately predict a show's success they'd be rich overnight!
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#31
Posted: 5/10/07 at 4:11amA few months before Wicked came out, I remember reading a snippet in a newspaper of a bus trip to "Wicked" for a future date. I was telling my mom that'd it probably be really crappy and it didn't sound like a hit.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#32
Posted: 5/10/07 at 5:14am
"...remember all those people who though a musical of Little Orphan Annie was the worst idea they ever heard"
Actually, I still think that 
I really don't understand the appeal...
Mamma Mia - I remember when it was just supposed to be a little 'filler' show at the Prince Edward for a few months in 1999. 8 years on and it's seen off most of its competitors.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#33
Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:29amI remember ALL the hubbub about Disney having the nerve to bring a musical to Broadway. Much as we hated the thought of Disney invading 'our turf', it seemed wise to see Beauty and the Beast its first week because it was sure to close by its second. Guess we were wrong :)
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#34
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:37pm
Jersey Boys- I thought it would go the way that alot of the jukebox musicals have gone and would last a couple of months and then close.
The Drowsy Chaperone- I thought that since it was an original idea and wasn't based on a movie or book or used popular songs or had big names in the cast that it would have lasted a few months.
Wicked- The first time I saw it, I thought it was okay and then the second time I saw it, I was bored out of my mind. I almost fell asleep during it. I actually thought the big thing of that season when Wicked opened would've be Little Shop of Horrors since everyone knows it and the movie, but I was wrong.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#35
Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:04pm
Jekyll and Hyde. Wow. I mean, wow. I couldn't believe that thing kept running.
It was still a flop.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#36
Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:21pmBump
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#37
Posted: 5/10/07 at 4:41pm
Been said already but....
MAMMA MIA
DROWSY CHAPERONE
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#38
Posted: 5/10/07 at 4:48pm
I didn't necessarily think these shows would outright "flop" -- but I never predicted the amount of success they enjoyed.
I never in a million years thought that Mamma Mia! would be as internationally successful as it has been. I never realized that so many Americans still liked the music of ABBA that much to keep it going. I was also leery since the last Ulvaeus/Andersson show Chess flopped in NYC. I figured it would be a show that would be a hit in the U.K. but not be as popular in the USA. Oh..how I was wrong!
I never thought that the off-broadway transfers Spelling Bee, Urinetown, or Avenue Q would have been as successful as they have been -- or that they each would be Tony award winners.
Another show would be Aida. When it missed out on the Best Musical Tony nomination and wasn't able to perform on the telecast, I thought it was doomed.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#39
Posted: 5/10/07 at 5:21pmThe revival of "Annie Get Your Gun". I saw it toward the end of previews, and to me it was cheap, glorified community theatre fare, and I left the theatre thinking it would close shortly after opening. Boy was I wrong!!
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#40
Posted: 5/10/07 at 5:57pmI never thought that The Wedding Singer would last a month. Then I saw it, and hated it more.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#41
Posted: 5/10/07 at 6:23pm
"Jekyll and Hyde. Wow. I mean, wow. I couldn't believe that thing kept running.
It was still a flop. "
It didn't recoup all its money is what you mean right? still it ran 1543 performances (I don't get how it oculdn't recoup with that many) which by nearlya nyone's definition gives it SOME element of success as much as I don't necesarily like it
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#42
Posted: 5/10/07 at 6:32pm
Ave Q.
I didn't think it would "flop." But I didn't think it would have the staying power that it has had.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#43
Posted: 5/10/07 at 6:47pmJersey Boys, because it seemed to open with little fanfare.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#44
Posted: 5/10/07 at 7:05pm
Lion King- I thought people wouldn't come thinking it was just a rehash of the movie or a glorified theme park show
The Producers- sort of the same, I also thought people would grow tired of Nathan Lane's schtick post-Birdcage
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#45
Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:41pmBump.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#46
Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:00pmAvenue Q...I was almost positive.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/05
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#47
Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:04pm
LEGALLY BLONDE, definitely.
And I thought SPRING AWAKENING would close by January of this year, because it was doing so poorly before it opened, but just look at it now.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#48
Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:13pm
It didn't recoup all its money is what you mean right? still it ran 1543 performances (I don't get how it oculdn't recoup with that many) which by nearlya nyone's definition gives it SOME element of success as much as I don't necesarily like it
Well, we got to stick to the established Variety definition of hit or flop - otherwise, we could find success in ANY production.
So, no, sorry the show, like all of Wildhorn musicals on Broadway, flopped.
re: Shows You Thought Would Flop That Ended Up Being A Success#49
Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:14pmSo then technically, shows like SA, Blonde, etc. can't be put in this category as they haven't been established as a (financial) hit or flop?
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