The best show you've EVER seen... that flopped.- Page 3

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 8:10pm

I don't think Sondheim shows deserve special royalty, if they flopped, they flopped. Just because it's Sondheim dosen't mean it shouldn't be called a flop.

One of the most brilliant and genius composers EVER - Cy Coleman had his share of flops, but it dosen't make him any less brilliant.

[jezzebelle]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:14pm

Side Show.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:23pm

Caroline, Or Change
Taboo
Sunset Boulevard

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:27pm

FOLLIES (London)

[zippyjen]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 11:48pm

caroline or change
you're a good man charlie brown (revival)
little shop of horrors (revival)
current revival or virginia woolf ( i am actually not sure if it flopped or not)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:16am

Hal Prince who produced and directed most of those Sondheim shows calls them flops without embarassment -- if he doesn't have a problem then why should anyone else?

He has said he has been part of hits and flops and successes and failures. The first two are financial terms. The latter two are artistic ones. Some of the greatest "successes" in the history of theatre were flops. So what? That's often more of a reflection on the quality of the audience than the quality of the work -- if people are too thick to embrace and support genius, I wouldn't blame the artist for that.

Updated On: 9/14/05 at 12:16 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:20am

dracula. (La Jolla though, I didn't see it on Broadway...)

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:22am

i really loved dracula too.

::partial thread jack...have flop shows ever been revived? or does that just scare producers away?::

it's just that i'd love to see all those shows i mentioned again. Updated On: 9/14/05 at 12:22 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:22am

Steel Pier

Loved it.

[CFelix]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 1:01am

Being a Southern Californian, I don't see every NYC show. But I'm there at least once a year, and have seen many of them over the past 20 years. I also catch out-of-town tryouts from Seattle to San Diego. I average about 25 professional shows a year. I'd overwhelming say RAGTIME. In fact the best show I've ever seen. This was the most emotional moving show I've ever seen. I've talk to many of those involved in the LA and New York productions and they seem to overwhelming say that it was one of the most rewarding shows of their careers. Unfortunately the costs involved in keeping the show alive were prohibitive. I look forward to see a major revival, although I don't think its too likely given the costs.

[Composer9]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 3:27am

Sweet Smell of Success-(I really liked it despite some of its foibles, I think it could be reworked...it had good, memorable music)
Wonderful Town (I don't care what people say about Donna, she was brilliant.)

and I also agree that Ragtime is one of the best "flops" ever to grace a broadway stage.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 6:08am

I think 'disappointments' is a worse term than flop - it infers that the show itself was a let down and audience expectations are not realised whereas most people realise that the word flop refers to the financial status of a show rather than the overall experience.

London flops I've really enjoyed:
Witches of Eastwick (naturally!)
La Cava
Our House
Ragtime
Romeo and Juliet - The Musical was pretty hilarious, but not for anywhere near the right reasons.

Posted: 9/14/05 at 6:22am

bernadette's gypsy revival

thats show was awesome!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:17am

PARADE. I saw it the night before it closed on Broadway, and the theater was half-empty. WTF?

[japhun]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:41am

Wonderful Town with Donna and Jennifer....what a great show!

Also, Little Shop (revival in 2004) was pleasantly surprising.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:59am

i didn't know Ragtime was a flop! that's definitely on my list too!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 11:36am

First and foremost, FOLLIES - but I never saw the original production.

Sixteen Wounded
Sunday in the Park with George
Caroline, or Change
Jane Eyre

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:06pm

All of Sondheim's shows...tho I never saw Bounce, so cannot call it a favorite.
BTW, I agree with Margo...a flop is a show that failed in a financial sense...and look at all of the brilliant shows that failed. Seems like Sondheim is in good company!

Non Sondheim favorites, Once on this Island and Side Show.

TRUE favorite, Carrie.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:16pm

GRIND.

[mikewood]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:24pm

My favorite show that I've seen that flopped was Little Women. When I listen to the cast recording, I have such fond memories of the show and Sutton. I truly loved this production and wished it would have been better advertised. >>>

I have shocked myself with my frequent obsession with Act 2 of Little Women, although I skip the Operatic tragedies and anything with Amy, I have listened to the cd over and over again.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:26pm

Sondheim's flops:
(number of performances - Assassins 101 Bway perfs not included)
#1 - Anyone Can Whistle - 9
#2 - Merrily we Roll Along - 16
#3 - Pacific Overtures - 193
#4 - Do I hear a Waltz - 220
#5 - Passion - 280
#6 - Follies - 522
#7 - Sweeney Todd - 557
#8 - A Little Night Music - 601
#9 - Sunday in the Park w/ George - 604
#10 - Company - 705
#11 - Into the Woods - 765
#12 - Forum - 964

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:36pm

Personally, I don't consider Bernie's GYPSY a flop...but that's just opinion.

I guess you could say the recent revival of INTO THE WOODS was a flop. But I loved it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:36pm

I would also add:

Caroline, or Change
Sweeney Todd
Sunday in the Park With George
Passion
Parade
Big (delightful show)
Once on This Island
The Secret Garden
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Will Rogers Follies (I'm not sure if this recouped or not)
All You Need is Love (London)
Whistle Down the Wind (London)
The Beautiful Game (London)
Witches of Eastwick (London)

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:40pm

was Titanic considered a flop?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:41pm

A Little Night Music, Company, Into The Woods and Forum were all hits and turned a profit during their initial Broadway runs.

I wouldn't count Do I Hear A Waltz -- Richard Rodgers wrote the score and Sondheim only wrote the lyrics (as he had for West Side Story and Gypsy).

Updated On: 9/14/05 at 12:41 PM