Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Julian2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/06
#1Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:45pm
These days, it seems like its becomeing a growing trend that even if your show dosen't do well on Broadway (or even play on Broadway), the show will go on to enter the "canon" (using the term losely) through local productions. Seussical only ran for 200 performances and is now MTI's most liscensed show. Little Women looks like its headed for a similar future, banking on its name. Lippa's A Little Princess is getting a recording and being liscensed by MTI, hoping this will work for them.
I have nothing against these shows (they're all at least decent) or the method of popularity (although I do wish that other not "name" shows could get a chance) But my question is, has this ever happened before in Broadway's history? Where mass local productions of a show have elevated said show from obscurity to a place in the "canon"?
#2re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:50pm
thoroughly modern millie....?
i know, like, three schools in my area and one community theater that jumped on those rights.
#2re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:51pm
'Seusical'
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#3re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:54pm
a high school near me did millie and it was fantastic. Acutally, last year they did "Seussical" last year 
Updated On: 3/9/07 at 04:54 PM
ElFantasma14
Broadway Star Joined: 9/26/06
#4re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:55pmOnce Upon a Mattress is huge with youth theatre groups, and it had very short runs on Broadway in its original production and the revival.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#5re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:58pmFloyd Collins? Songs for a New World?
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#6re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 5:01pmNeither of those were on Broadway in the first place.
#7re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 5:02pm
Neither of those were on Broadway. I'm not sure LITTLE WOMEN is going to have community and high school success a la THE SUESSICAL. That flop of TOM SAWYER hasn't exactly lit the regional circuit on fire since it became available...
INTO THE WOODS and GYPSY have certainly made a lot more money in regional and community theatre/high school production than they ever made on Broadway. Ditto WEST SIDE STORY.
#8re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 5:08pmThere was an article on playbill.com last year about how Seussical is one of the most liscenced shows.
#9re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 5:40pmCandide
#10re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 5:42pmThat's funny! I did Seussical last year and a group I regularly perform with is doing Thoroughly Modern Millie this year.
circusliz
Broadway Star Joined: 11/19/05
#11re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:04pmNot on Broadway, but L5Y has done well.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:11pm
Suessical Millie and Little Women all have inherent appeal to school and community groups-- and remember that all of them are adapted from well-known properties.
I'm not sure I'd rank Mattress as "obscure"-- it made money, was revived, launched the career of Carol Burnett and was turned into two Television specials.
#13re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performed.
Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:19pmI wish MTI would release the Lonny Price concert version of Candide...
#14re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:39pmWorking
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#15re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:44pmParade
vmlinnie
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/06
#16re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:54pmSEUSSICAL!
deep-delving, dark, deliberate you would say
browsing on spire and bogland; but today
our sky-blue slates are steaming in the sun,
our yachts tinkling and dancing in the bay
like racehorses. We contemplate at last
shining windows, a future forbidden to no one.
Derek Mahon
"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."
Arthur Miller
FutureAladdinOnB'Way
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/07
#17re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 7:17pmI wish MTI would release DRS!! That show would be so fun to do
#18re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 7:49pmChildren of Eden.
#19re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 9:21pm
Children of Eden did not play on Broadway.
For a comedy Neil Simon's God's Favorite is done quite a bit for being one of Simon's shortest running Broadway shows
LuPonatic
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/06
#20re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 11:35pm
I know when I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Broadway, The Playbill had a little thing basically saying MTI already had their sights set on the show.
how funny is it that The community theatre I'm on the Board of is doing Little Women this summer, we did Once Upon a Mattress last summer, summer before that we did Seussical! And I have my sights set on Into the Woods or Thoroughly Modern Millie for NEXT summer (I usually direct their musical) HA! (before that was Radio Gals...BLECK!) well, actually, sort of, maybe, kind of cute...in a way
LuPonatic
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/06
#21re: Shows that didn't do well on B'way, but have gone on to widely performe
Posted: 3/9/07 at 11:35pmA Year with Frog and Toad
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