Shows that should have made it to Broadway, but never did?? — Page 2

BwayLB said: "dramamama611 said: "BwayLB said: "High School Musical"

Please tell me your joking. That was pretty gawd-awful."

Excuse me but HSM was a big part of my middle school years"

That makes it a good show? Barney the Dinosaur was a big part of my 2's (or so my parents have said), but that doesn't mean it's any good.

A Man of No Importance

Death Takes a Holiday

Here Lies Love

John Adams said: "I secondRebecca.

I saw Whistle Down the Windin the West End and in spite of some recycling of melodies, I thought it should have played on Broadway."

Agree with what’s been said here about Whistle Down the Wind.  One of ALW’s best scores I think. 

PatrickDC said: "HUNCHBACK: ...The other criticism was there was lots of chorus people telling us the story instead of playing it out on stage."

Yes, you hit the nail. I'm guessing that structural issue was the main sticking point. To get around that you need a new book and maybe a new directorial approach, which would mean back to the drawing board with the workshop process.

But still for me, the music, the story and the performances were unforgettable - maybe the best thing I saw that year. At least we have the album, which I enjoy often - especially on long car trips.  

I saw Whistle Down the Windin the West End and in spite of some recycling of melodies, I thought it should have played on Broadway.

I saw it in the West End as well and it was visually exciting with some really great moments, but on the whole, the show was overlong (especially the second act, which lost momentum and the story limped along for FAR too long).  Unsettled Scores is probably Lloyd Webber's weakest attempt at a power ballad.  It just sounds like he stitched some random melodies together at the last minute and asked the lyricist to dictate a laundry list.  Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts (aka English Girls from Song & Dance) is the only recycled melody I recall in the score.

I saw Zoro at a local theater a while back. I enjoyed it. Never understood why it didn’t make it Broadway.

I loved the West End production of Zorro!  I think it was probably too small a show to be commercially viable on Broadway, but I did find it charming and delightful with one of the best ensemble performances I've seen in any musical.

I would like to add Lord of the Rings to the list that should have transferred to Broadway.  It should have gone into the Ford/Lyric/Foxwoods/Hilton when Young Frankenstein flopped instead of Spiderman.  I've never been a fan of the books or the films, but I absolutely LOVED this show.

"Gold/Bounce/Road Show"

"Gold/Bounce/Road Show"

You forgot "Wise Guys".  I saw it as Bounce and it was obvious why it didn't play Broadway.  It was a boring, confusing mess.

I definitely agree with Rebecca and Love Never Dies. In addition, I wish Yeston & Kopit's "Phantom" had made it to Broadway. It's a lovely show, with a lovely score. The success of POTO might help the Y&K version if they were running at the same time. Phans like me would be in 7th Heaven if we could see versions on Broadway at the same time!