Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Cfried
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/16
#1Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:18pm
The first recent production that comes to mind is HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, which had a stellar run at Paper Mill and received raves yet flopped on Broadway. What else?
#2Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:28pm
Lennon? It seemed to do pretty well in San Francisco (I saw it there twice).
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:34pm
Ring of Fire did its tryout in Buffalo and was an absolute blockbuster. Then it came to Broadway and quickly folded.
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Sunny11
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
#4Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:36pm
Financialy speaking some of the factors of success are different out of town compared to broadway.
- Limited run vs open run
- Smaller house vs a larger one
- lower competition from other shows for audiences
- Cheaper ticket prices out of town
A like for like comparison can't always be made.
#5Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:38pm
Big Fish! I loved it in NY!
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#6Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:38pm
Sunny11 said: "Smaller house vs a larger one"
This brings to mind On the Town, which I believe did quite well at its Barrington Stage run and would have also done supremely well on Broadway had it not woefully picked the Lyric Theatre.
#7Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:47pm
Wasn't "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum" a complete flop out-of-town because of the first song? That's why they added, "Comedy Tonight," in the beginning.
#8Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 6:01pm
Desire Under the Elms. The Chicago critics raved the latest Falls/Dennehy production and Chicagoans obediently flocked and gushed over the show. I couldn't wait to get out of that threatre and didn't understand why they were so rapturous over the incomprehensible unintended silliness happening on stage. I couldn't imagine it would be embraced in NY. OOF!
Million Dollar Quartet was a staple for over 7 years in Chicago, but flopped on Broadway (save for the Featured Actor Tony award). But that was really more about the show simply being too small for Broadway. At an Off-Broadway house, it would probably still be running.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Updated On: 12/9/16 at 06:01 PM
#9Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 6:15pm
I seem to recall Finding Neverland was sold it's entire ART run
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#10Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 6:30pm
Well Desire Under The Elms DID feature Pablo Schreiber's nude derriere, after all...
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#11Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 7:19pm
Mister Matt said: "Million Dollar Quartet was a staple for over 7 years in Chicago, but flopped on Broadway (save for the Featured Actor Tony award). But that was really more about the show simply being too small for Broadway. At an Off-Broadway house, it would probably still be running."
It did transfer to New World Stages after ending its year long run on Broadway, and only ran for another year there. I can't imagine that it really would have done that much better if it had opened directly Off-Broadway.
whatdoesntkillme
Featured Actor Joined: 8/15/16
#12Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 8:46pm
Not exactly an out of town tryout, but American Psycho was a hit in the West End and flopped on Broadway this past summer.
#13Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 9:42pm
"Not exactly an out of town tryout, but American Psycho was a hit in the West End and flopped on Broadway this past summer."
American Psycho in London played a very limited (but sold out run) in a well respected north London producing venue with a loyal fan base and membership. The short run was pretty much sold out before it opened so I'd say it's very debatable that it can be quantified 'a hit' and it is not true it was produced in the West End. The fact that it didn't transfer in actually probably further calls into question it's real success here either.
#14Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/9/16 at 9:55pm
If I recall correctly, Lestat made more money in San Francisco than any other tryout in that area up to that date (including Wicked). I'm not sure if that is still true today, but we all know how Wicked did on Broadway in comparison to Lestat...
MarkBearSF
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/25/11
#15Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:23am
gleek4114 said: "If I recall correctly, Lestat made more money in San Francisco than any other tryout in that area up to that date (including Wicked). I'm not sure if that is still true today, but we all know how Wicked did on Broadway in comparison to Lestat..."
It DID get a big pre-sale, largely based upon the WIcked experience. However, the stench of a horrible flop was quickly evident at the Curran. It was anything but a hit in SF.
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#16Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:33am
MarkBearSF said: "gleek4114 said: "If I recall correctly, Lestat made more money in San Francisco than any other tryout in that area up to that date (including Wicked). I'm not sure if that is still true today, but we all know how Wicked did on Broadway in comparison to Lestat..."
It DID get a big pre-sale, largely based upon the WIcked experience. However, the stench of a horrible flop was quickly evident at the Curran. It was anything but a hit in SF.
"
So people bought tickets to a completely different production before it even started performances solely based on the last tenant of the venues success story? Which had no correlation or connection whatsoever to this new, incoming production? Seems silly to me. You'd think San Fransicoans would know better.
#17Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:38am
9 to 5 did pretty well in LA, no?
#18Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:53am
I seem to recall Finding Neverland was sold it's entire ART run
Yep, it was sold out and adored at ART. I never saw it in NY but a whole lot changed, even admitting that I don't know the half of it.
oknazevad
Swing Joined: 8/29/16
#19Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 1:05am
Sunny11 said: "Financialy speaking some of the factors of success are different out of town compared to Broadway.
- Limited run vs open run
- Smaller house vs a larger one
- lower competition from other shows for audiences
- Cheaper ticket prices out of town
A like for like comparison can't always be made.
"
The the latter two are definitely a factor. Not sure about the first two, though. Without knowing all the specifics, I don't know if a limited run does inherently better than an open ended one. Also, the houses are usually essentially comparable in size, even larger, as they're the often the same ones that host national tours, which are often converted old vaudeville houses or movie palaces.
Updated On: 12/15/16 at 01:05 AM
Sunny11
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
#20Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 2:20am
rcwr said: "I seem to recall Finding Neverland was sold it's entire ART run
Yep, it was sold out and adored at ART. I never saw it in NY but a whole lot changed, even admitting that I don't know the half of it.
"
Reread the reviews from ART, adored isn't an accurate description. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-Broadway-Bound-FINDING-NEVERLAND-Opens-at-ART-Updating-Live-20140814
In New York they made over a million dollars a week for the first 6 months and ran 17 months, not exactly a flop.
#21Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 2:29am
Sorry, you're right, Sunny11; I didn't mean critics and I should have been clearer. I meant it selling out and a lot of repeat audience and people wishing to get tickets who couldn't. Just the Cambridge word of mouth and vibe around here.
MarkBearSF
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/25/11
#22Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 3:11am
GreasedLightning said: "Seems silly to me. You'd think San Fransicoans (sp) would know better. "
Agreed. However, there was a lot of love for sometimes SF homegirl Anne Rice, misguided trust in Elton John and a desire to get in on the next big thing.
#24Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 9:59am
Henry Sweet Henry received excellent reviews and did solid business in Philadelphia. Sixty-six performances in NYC at the Palace, which is too bad because it was a delightful musical comedy with great choreography by Michael Bennett.
#25Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 10:41am
GreasedLightning said: "MarkBearSF said: "gleek4114 said: "If I recall correctly, Lestat made more money in San Francisco than any other tryout in that area up to that date (including Wicked). I'm not sure if that is still true today, but we all know how Wicked did on Broadway in comparison to Lestat..."
It DID get a big pre-sale, largely based upon the WIcked experience. However, the stench of a horrible flop was quickly evident at the Curran. It was anything but a hit in SF.
"So people bought tickets to a completely different production before it even started performances solely based on the last tenant of the venues success story? Which had no correlation or connection whatsoever to this new, incoming production? Seems silly to me. You'd think San Fransicoans would know better. "
*San Franciscans
I really don't remember this being the case, but I don't remember it not being the case either. I think people were very excited about another new show coming that could be just as good/as big a hit as Wicked. Not to mention the solid cast, and intriguing-at-least creative team.
I was at what I think was Jack Noseworthy's final performance. Lestat was an experience, that's for sure.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#26Shows that are successful out of town but flop on Broadway?
Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:53pm
Sunny11 said: "In New York they made over a million dollars a week for the first 6 months and ran 17 months, not exactly a flop."
I don't believe it ever recouped it's investment. So I'd define that as a flop.
My father (AIDS)
My sister (AIDS)
My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS)
The gays and the straights
And the white and the spades
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