Sondheim's Success
Sondheim's Success
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
Sondheim's Success#0
Posted: 5/21/05 at 5:30pmQuick question: which of Sondheim's shows have been commercially successful?
re: Sondheim's Success#1
Posted: 5/21/05 at 5:34pm
Of the shows for which he did the music and lyrics, A Funny Thing Happenened on the Way To The Forum was his biggest box office hit, running 964 performances (the most of any of his shows) spawning two revivals as well as a movie version.
Of shows that he only did the lyrics for, West Side Story obviously was the most successful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
re: Sondheim's Success#2
Posted: 5/21/05 at 5:36pm
Gypsy and West Side Story are obviously his most well known musicals but not so sure about the biggest box office hit. Margo probably got it right. 
re: Sondheim's Success#4
Posted: 5/21/05 at 5:40pmWell, the film version of West Side Story, is one of the most popular, well-known and successful film musicals in history worldwide. But, I wouldn't really call it a "Sondheim musical" since he only did the lyrics (and neither would he) -- the contributions of Bernstein and Robbins are the most memorable aspects of that show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
re: Sondheim's Success#5
Posted: 5/21/05 at 5:41pm
Other hits:
Company
A Little Night Music
Into the Woods
re: Sondheim's Success#6
Posted: 5/21/05 at 5:42pmSorry, I misread the question as being MOST commercially successful, not just commercially successful. Forum, Company, A Little Night Music and Into the Woods all turned a profit (as did West Side Story and Gypsy).
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
re: Sondheim's Success#7
Posted: 5/21/05 at 7:48pmAce! Thanks for the facts. Another question, which of ALW's shows have been commercial successes on Broadway? There are some obvious ones (e.g. Phantom) and some that are clearly not (i.e. the ones that didn't even make it to Broadway, the hideous Beautiful Game) but I'm unsure of some of the middling shows.
re: Sondheim's Success#8
Posted: 5/21/05 at 8:38pmSuperstar, Evita, Cats, Phantom and Joseph were all profitable (at least in their original runs). Sunset lost millions. By Jeeves, and Aspects of Love lost money. I believe Starlight Express closed at a loss (because it was SO expensive to run). I think Song & Dance did too, but I'm not sure.
re: Sondheim's Success#9
Posted: 5/21/05 at 8:58pmI believe Sondheim sent Buckley a bill for SONG AND DANCE.
re: Sondheim's Success#10
Posted: 5/21/05 at 8:59pmI believe Sondheim sent Buckley a bill for SONG AND DANCE.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
re: Sondheim's Success#11
Posted: 5/21/05 at 9:18pmCool! I am surprised at Sunset being a loss. Although it is one of my least favourites of his stuff. So am actually not that surprised. But Starlight Express? That's a keeper.
re: Sondheim's Success#12
Posted: 5/21/05 at 9:34pm
Sunset hemorrhaged money after Close left the show. It was ridiculously expensive and lost -- if I remember correctly -- something like $8 million and resulted in Webber closing down his Really Useful Theatre Company as a result.
Oh and Beautiful Game closed out of town.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/21/04
re: Sondheim's Success#13
Posted: 5/22/05 at 6:14am
Thanks for that Margo, luv.
I knew about Beautiful Game. Don't blame them closing that one. It's such a dismal show. Has ALW actually sold his RUG or did he just float it on the stock market or something?
re: Sondheim's Success#14
Posted: 5/22/05 at 1:18pm
This message's a bit O/T, but none the less
MargoChanning-WHere didja get your icon? I really like it.
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