What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
#1What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 2:24am
There must be some other examples of this but it's striking how successful RAGTIME is now compared to the previous revival. This can only be a good thing because it means that even if there are revival flops people can always point to Ragtime as an example of why they could try again (so for example maybe someone will finally do the Audra Follies). The same way people can always point to Maybe Happy Ending to say that the 'little show that could' can turn things around.
Besides Ragtime, what other examples are there?
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#2What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 6:05am
Sam Mendes’ acclaimed 1998 Broadway revival of CABARET, which ran on Broadway 6 years: 1998 to 2004. Every other Broadway revival - before and after, only ran about a year - including the revival of this revival.
#3What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 7:10am
I'm not sure if the Terry Johnson-helmed revival of La Cage aux Folles recouped, but it at least ran longer than the prior one from Jerry Zaks.
#4What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 8:40am
There is the age-old question of defining a flop and a hit. I would strongly disagree that Ragtime was a flop, but to each their own.
Merrily We Roll Along, to a certain point Follies (the 2012 revival was the first Sondheim show to gross over a million dollars in one week), the 1990's revival of She Loves Me ran longer that the original production by 52 performances.
#5What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:15am
HAIR was revived in 1977, though that production lasted only about a month. Its 2009 revival, by contrast, ran for more than a year.
The Wiz was revived in 1983 and closed after just 13 performances. The revival last year—though a limited engagement—was well attended and financially successful.
Looking back at revivals prior to the late 1980s, most were essentially replicas of their original Broadway productions, and many had short runs that weren't profitable. The idea of a major, long-running, non-replica revival seems to have taken hold with Jerry Zaks’s 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#6What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:31am
I would argue Zaks’ ANYTHING GOES paved the way for his GUYS AND DOLLS (despite AG being at a nonprofit, it toured, and it revitalized an old show).
I will be curious to see how Ragtime’s grosses look in January/February.
#7What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 9:57am
fashionguru_23 said: "There is the age-old question of defining a flop and a hit. I would strongly disagree that Ragtime was a flop, but to each their own.
Merrily We Roll Along, to a certain point Follies (the 2012 revival was the first Sondheim show to gross over a million dollars in one week), the 1990's revival of She Loves Me ran longer that the original production by 52 performances."
I mean if a revival is a flop (so 2009/2010 Ragtime vs now, although I am assuming to Ermengarde's point that they continue to do good business into the new year).
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
#8What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 10:11am
Ermengarde - I think mentioning ANYTHING GOES as the gateway for GUYS AND DOLLS is a good observation. I think the only caveat is that ANYTHING GOES is a show that is usually a 'revisal' every time it is produced. The LCT production didn't exactly revive what was done in the original production or earlier revivals. But yes, that ANYTHING GOES had replacements on Broadway, toured and had a west end run. It certainly could have sparked interest in reviving GUYS AND DOLLS, a more 'set' Broadway script and score.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#9What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 11:17am
I'm pretty sure the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd was a flop, but the 2005 and 2023 productions both made money.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#10What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 1:39pm
fashionguru_23 said: "There is the age-old question of defining a flop and a hit. I would strongly disagree that Ragtime was a flop, but to each their own."
You must have never invested money on anything if you think this is unclear.
Tell someone who has lost millions in an investment that you disagree their business flopped but at least they had a good time.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Updated On: 12/9/25 at 01:39 PM
#11What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 1:43pm
The first Ragtime revival, if memory serves, got great reviews. But it was a financial flop: bad timing economically and perhaps too close to the original's run.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#12What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 2:36pm
blaxx said: "fashionguru_23 said: "There is the age-old question of defining a flop and a hit. I would strongly disagree that Ragtime was a flop, but to each their own."
You must have never invested money on anything if you think this is unclear.
Tell someone who have lost millions in an investment that you disagree their business flopped but at least they had a good time.
"
On a financial level, something like Ragtime and Lolita, My Love are both flops. On an artistic or critical level they are not the same thing.
Too bad you can't get back your money for Rebecca or Nerds
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#13What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 3:03pm
fashionguru_23 said: "blaxx said: "fashionguru_23 said: "There is the age-old question of defining a flop and a hit. I would strongly disagree that Ragtime was a flop, but to each their own."
You must have never invested money on anything if you think this is unclear.
Tell someone who have lost millions in an investment that you disagree their business flopped but at least they had a good time.
"
On a financial level, something like Ragtime and Lolita, My Love are both flops. On an artistic or critical level they are not the same thing.
Too bad you can't get back your money for Rebecca or Nerds"
The financial aspect is the only measurable one, with cold hard facts. There is no error in calling a multi million dollar loss a flop, regardless of how good or if well critically received.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Timon3
Stand-by Joined: 4/29/20
#14What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 4:03pm
Surprised no one has got the old Razzle Dazzle yet!
Yes Ragtime did flop after 834 performances and a producer that ended up in clink.
#15What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 5:16pm
Timon3 said: "Surprised no one has got the old Razzle Dazzle yet!"
I think the OP is asking for examples where the first revival of a title was financially unsuccessful, but a subsequent revival recouped. So, shows like Chicago and Merrily, which failed in their original productions but succeeded in their first revival, are in a different category - something worth discussing for sure, but not answers to the question posed in this thread.
Zeppie2022
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/22
#16What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 6:18pm
"So, shows like Chicago and Merrily, which failed in their original productions but succeeded in their first revival, are in a different category "
The original Chicago recouped its investment which is means it did not fail plus the show got 10 Tony nominations. The only failure was it did not win even one Tony award with 10 nominations thanks to "Chorus Line".
#17What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 6:22pm
Zeppie2022 said: "The original Chicago recouped its investment which is means it did not fail plusthe show got 10 Tony nominations. The only failure was it did not win even one Tony award with 10 nominations thanks to "Chorus Line"."
Thanks for clearing that up. I took Timon's post to intimate that Chicago was an answer to the OP's question, and I didn't take the time to look it up.
#18What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 7:38pm
Did James Lapine's revival of Into the Woods recoup? I know it won the revival Tony, but it only ran 9 months and 279 performances and I don't remember if it toured... I find it fascinating, partly because it kinda has been forgotten (and if it's remembered, not too positively.) When Ben Rimalower was doing his great Giants in the Sky podcast about the history of ITW, I was hoping he'd ask Lapine about some of his decisions with the revival (besides just a general "I'll do things differently") but maybe it was for the best not to bring it up. (I only bought the cast album a few years ago, and admit I like it better than I expected to, though I already knew about all the changes to expect.)
The recent ITW revival had an even shorter run (179 performances,) but did tour and seems to have been considered a success (at any rate, I can't imagine it was a particularly expensive show to run.)
#19What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/9/25 at 7:46pm
And I admit, I'm not even sure how to gauge if the past two Sunday in the Park revivals were successful or not... The 2008 was a limited engagement,so does that count? (Another Sondheim show, Company's first revival was also a Roundabout limited engagement that almost transferred but... didn't) And the 2017 Gylenhaal revival was also a limited run that obviously sold well during that limited time but...
(I guess this is where answers to the original question get complicated.)
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#20What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/10/25 at 12:54am
EricMontreal22 said: "And I admit, I'm not even sure how to gauge if the past two Sunday in the Park revivals were successful or not... The 2008 was a limited engagement,so does that count? (Another Sondheim show, Company's first revival was also a Roundabout limited engagement that almost transferred but... didn't) And the 2017 Gylenhaal revival was also a limited run that obviously sold well during that limited time but...
(I guess this is where answers to the original question get complicated.)"
The 2008 Sunday was Roundabout, which is not categorized as it is a non for profit.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#21What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/10/25 at 2:54am
EricMontreal22 said: "And I admit, I'm not even sure how to gauge if the past two Sunday in the Park revivals were successful or not... The 2008 was a limited engagement,so does that count? (Another Sondheim show, Company's first revival was also a Roundabout limited engagement that almost transferred but... didn't) And the 2017 Gylenhaal revival was also a limited run that obviously sold well during that limited time but...
(I guess this is where answers to the original question get complicated.)"
The 2017 Sunday in the Park with George revival recouped after just 56 performances or 7 weeks. WOW. And that was only in 2017.......I'm guessing today it would take months.
I do remember at the time it had the highest grossing weeks of any Sondheim musical ever on Broadway (the Bernadette Follies actually previously had the record for highest week, but that was a much larger theatre and the success was short lived).
https://playbill.com/article/sunday-in-the-park-with-george-starring-jake-gyllenhaal-will-be-preserved-on-a-cast-recording
Scanning the Sunday (2008) grosses, we can be certain the 2017 revival was more financially successful so it KIND of counts in a roundabout way, even though it probably isn't fair to compare a not-for-profit to a A-list star commercial broadway.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/SUNDAY-IN-THE-PARK-WITH-GEORGE
When my goodbye post was removed: “but I had a great dramatic finish!!!!”
#22What revivals were flops but then later revivals become hits?
Posted: 12/10/25 at 3:34am
blaxx said: "
The 2008 Sunday was Roundabout, which is not categorized as it is a non for profit."
Thanks. OK that bumps out the 1995 Company too then.I'm still curious about Into the Woods--I don't think I ever bothered to look up just how well it did (or didn't do) although at the time I did think it closed quickly for a Tony winning revival of a popular show (although ITW hadn't quite reached the "beloved" status it would a few years later.)
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