Years back, there was a touring production of Doctor Doolittle that starred Tom Hewitt and a then unknown Tony Yazbeck that toured my hometown. I think Dee Hoty was in it as well? Regardless, it was the most dreadful thing I'd ever seen. I was a kid and always just happy to be at a show, but this one made even me want to leave during intermission. Sadly, we stayed.
I think it eventually closed down to retool and then went back on the road in a new version with Tommy Tune. If memory serves, it didn't get better.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.