What is the worst production you have ever seen on Broadway? What is the worst show?- Page 2

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 8:34am

Worst Overall Production: Paradise Square - or as I called it - LesMiseRagtime

Worst Structure (Book, Score): Scandalous. Woof. 

Most Overrated: The Lion King & Aladdin - I finally saw these just to be able to cross off theatres I haven’t been in yet, and both shows are just remarkably bland mass-tourism fare. TLK is better structurally, but Aladdin basically is lifeless when the Genie isn’t on stage.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 8:43am

At the first preview of KING KONG, the ape dropped an Ensemble member  - it was part of the show - but she didn’t fall until a few seconds later. She was dangling midair until the fall began.

The backwall cinematic seascape messed with my equilibrium.

There were way too many audience members shooting video from the high seats in the Broadway.

KONG deserved a better show.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 8:49am

All Shook Up & Story of My Life spring to mind. They make Gatsby look good. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 9:03am

RUkiddingme said: "SunsetBlvd revival with Glen Close talking her way through the songs."

Same here. Having seen the original Broadway production countless times and with every cast change during its Broadway run, this 2017 concert-style Broadway revival was one sloppy mess with Close’s bugged-eye cartoon muggings and playing it up for laughs (which came her way). Miles different from her interpretation in 1995. The orchestra sounded lush and glorious but Close’s new interpretation was upsetting to watch, especially hearing the roar of laughter from the audience during the last moments of the musical. Really Glenn? This is your way of understanding the character better all these years later? 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 9:36am

Anastasia and The Great Gatsby.

[temms]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 10:05am

How has “In My Life” not been mentioned? A literal lemon the size of the entire stage descended from the flies at the finale. 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 10:09am

The Jekyll & Hyde revival was the worst production I've seen (of a show that I otherwise think is fine).

For the worst actual show, I'm in full agreement with quizking about Scandalous.

[BentleyB]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 11:04am

“Paradise Square” still don’t know how I made it all the way thru.   But “Burn This” I couldn’t run out of the Hudson fast enough along with several other audience members at intermission.  I fell asleep at least 3 times in act 1. 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 11:05am

temms said: "How has “In My Life” not been mentioned? A literal lemon the size of the entire stage descended from the flies at the finale."

I thought In My Life was terrible and enjoyable. The most dreadful show I ever sat through on Broadway was James Joyce’s The Dead. 

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 11:15am

I’ve seen a fair number of shows over the past twenty years.  The following productions rank on the bottom of my list:  Cinderella, Fiddler on the Roof (most recent revival), and Something Rotten.  But, that is coming from someone who ranks Ghost (which lasted less than four months) as one of my top favourites. :) 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 11:39am

Worst production- Mamma Mia. It was towards the end of their run. They just were tired. It felt like nobody cared.

 

Worst show- Addam’s Family. I thought “THIS is broadway?”

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 12:00pm

The two things I’ve hated the most on Broadway have been Jagged Little Pill and The Great Gatsby. Absolutely baffling that either made it. Abysmal.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 12:17pm

Summer- I still think about that car chase scene with the flat cars moving back and forth. I’ve seen some other clunkers- Tuck Everlasting, Getting the Band Back Together,  more recently I’m not in the camp loving Heart of Rock and Roll, it just feels cheap. 

[ijest22]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 12:41pm

Lestat wishes it was as good as The Great Gatsby

[binau]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 12:51pm

I wouldn’t say Glenn Close in the 2017 was literally the worst but it did reinforce my opinion that the show and her vocals were garbage - and it took Jamie Lloyd and Nicole to change my opinion. 
 

I would have to think about worst but in terms of most disappointing performances I would say I’ve attended very empty matinees in 2011 of the Hair tour when it returned to Broadway and Chicago and I found it quite underwhelming. But I respect the shows. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 12:51pm

Finding Neverland and Great Gatsby left me feeling the most personally insulted. 

 

Come From Away most overrated, really grating and maudlin yet entirely and breathlessly expository. But didn't ever feel like I was in the presence of something nearly evil. It was earnest, at least. 

 

Worst production from a staging/design perspective would be Mr. Saturday Night. 

 

I left Paradise Square at intermission so maybe not fair to comment. Only time I've done that at a Broadway musical. 

Updated On: 5/18/24 at 12:51 PM

[jagman106]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 1:41pm

For me, it was Dance of the Vampires. I was excited to see Michael Crawford's return to Broadway after Phantom. The critics butchered it, so I wasn't expecting too much. I caught a Saturday matinee, then met up with a friend for dinner and an evening show together. When we met, our exchange went something like this:

He: So, how was it?

Me: Well, the critics were wrong!

He: Really?

Me: Yes, they were too kind!

A runner up was The Addams Family. I guess I need to stay away from shows with ghouls and monsters.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 2:35pm

Melissa25 said: "I am chuckling once again thinking about the bestpart of Leap of Faith for me was reading Whizzer’s review. I don’t think I ever laughed so much. I specifically recall the exquisite detail of the gent on crutches trying to make a getaway exit up the center aisle before intermission."

I still wonder that they really really hated Ghost, Bonnie & Clyde and even Spider-Man to give a Best Musical nod to Leap of Faith.

Yes, I know the critical reception for those other 3 were not goot, but somehow Leap of Faith makes no sense to me at all.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 2:47pm

Jordan Catalano said: "BKLYN"

 

I saw BKLYN twice when it premiered at the New Denver Civic Theater in Denver before it went to Broadway. Loved it. But I remember thinking, when the Broadway run was announced, that it just would not work in a bigger theater. I think it was meant to run off-Broadway. I never saw it on Broadway but it was "semi" interactive when I saw it in Denver, from what I remember. And I really wish they had done a studio recording instead of a Live recording. I really enjoyed the score. JMO

 

The one show I just could not sit through, and left at Intermission, was "Soul Doctor". 

 

[hork]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 3:05pm

Kimberly Akimbo. It was like watching a bad sitcom with forgettable musical numbers shoehorned in. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 3:07pm

It will always be Once Upon a One More Time for me. There are quite a few shows that I didn't care about,  there are some that got completely erased from my memory, but OUOMT was the only one I actively hated with a passion. 

Updated On: 5/18/24 at 03:07 PM

[FranklinDickson2018]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 3:22pm

Violet was the worst show for me. I thought the music was terrible.  I remember thinking "please no more songs" or I will leave! 

[gymman]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 3:30pm

It's a tie! Cats and Aspects of Love.

[itsahopi]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 4:01pm

everyone saying Gatsby have had a truly blessed Broadway experience lol that’s not even in the bottom three THIS SEASON

[Broadwaydah]

Posted: 5/18/24 at 4:06pm

Metro was terrible. 
 

This will be unpopular but I hated Grand Hotel