good musicals that never made it to Broadway?

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:21pm

what are some musicals that got good reviews that still never made the jump to Broadway? (not this year)

for example, didn't Giant and Far From Heaven get good reviews ? and they are based on well-known movies. Wish those had come to Broadway. Still waiting on Top Hat and The Bodyguard from the UK as well. Mrs. Henderson Presents closed on the West End and I guess nothing is happening with that. I know it's not "mainstream" enough but oh how I wish Heathers would have been on Broadway. Would also like to see an official Broadway production of BAT BOY. 

[Cfried]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:23pm

HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME! Bodyguard is launching US national tour beginning at Paper Mill Playhouse this Fall, and a Bat Boy Broadway production is apparently in the works. 

Updated On: 9/16/16 at 03:23 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:41pm

Harmony by Barry manilow

[Kad]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:46pm

Top Hat was workshopped here but seems to have totally fallen apart- the fact that Holiday Inn came along doesn't help its chances.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:52pm

I'm glad that Bat Boy never moved to Broadway. Even the Union Square Theatre felt a bit too big for it. I really liked it there, but I've since fallen in love with it seeing it in more intimate spaces. In the smaller spaces it doesn't have to be overplayed. When the cast doesn't have to start the show already playing to the rafters it lets them build that hilarity over the evening and ramp it up to a fever pitch. It's harder to build up to a 10 when you have to start the show at an 8.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:52pm

I'm glad that Bat Boy never moved to Broadway. Even the Union Square Theatre felt a bit too big for it. I really liked it there, but I've since fallen in love with it seeing it in more intimate spaces. In the smaller spaces it doesn't have to be overplayed. When the cast doesn't have to start the show already playing to the rafters it lets them build that hilarity over the evening and ramp it up to a fever pitch. It's harder to build up to a 10 when you have to start the show at an 8.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 3:56pm

I was a Dogfight and Fly By Night fan. They had their flaws, but no more than other shows that did actually make it to Broadway.

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 4:01pm

Heathers the musical and Dogfight for sure

[Kad]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 4:02pm

asmith0307 said: "I was a Dogfight and Fly By Night fan. They had their flaws, but no more than other shows that did actually make it to Broadway."

Did either show actually ever have Broadway aspirations?

Shows don't need to make the jump to Broadway- some are never intended to be in such large theatres.

 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 4:19pm

No clue. Dogfight did have a commercial producer tied to it I think.  (And for the record, I totally agree that some shows aren't meant to be on Broadway. Just stating that I loved those shows, and while they had problems, they weren't the type of problems that people should immediately discredit them for)

[Jessetenny]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 4:26pm

The Last Five Years!

[Wildcard]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 4:51pm

Harmony was not Broadway-ready at its last incarnation.

Far From Heaven is a good show although it works best in a smaller setting.

The "big" shows I would have wanted to see on Broadway are Martin Guerre, Whistle Down the Wind, and the German Hunchback of Notre Dame

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 4:53pm

Harmony: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Barry-Manilows-HARMONY-Finally-Headed-to-Broadway-LA-Run-Wins-10-BWW-Awards-20150120

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 5:00pm

The Witches Of Eastwick, was one the surprised me.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 5:34pm

Ditto Witches of Eastwick.  Also, Zorro and Lord of the Rings from London. I thought the Mackintosh revivals of Oliver and My Fair Lady would transfer, but they never went to Broadway.

Didn't Camille Claudel receive good reviews Off-Broadway?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 6:06pm

I second Martin Guerre. I'd love a complete recording of the score. The revised version they did at the Watermill Theatre was pretty great but probably a little too small for Broadway.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 6:16pm

DOGFIGHT and THE BAKER'S WIFE come to mind.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 8:17pm

Two of my favorite musicals never made it from the West End to Broadway:

1) THE CARD - Great score and script, starred Jim Dale, Marti Webb and Millicent Martin. (Alec Guiness did the non-musical film sometimes retitled as The Promoter.)

2) WINDY CITY - terrific fast-paced and tuneful adaptation of The Front Page -  all the fun of the original with a great score.) 

 

 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 9:46pm

I would like to see ALW's THE BEAUTIFUL GAME make it to Broadway; perhaps Off-Broadway first. It's a small show, production-wise, with a beautiful score. Saw it in London years ago...

[Sondheim_Disney1595]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 9:47pm

Minsky's

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 10:15pm

Witches

Marty

Arthur The Musical

[ozjust4]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 10:18pm

Hunchback, Heathers and Clinton.

Updated On: 9/16/16 at 10:18 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 10:34pm

Saw Heathers and Clinton. Both were slight but at least Clinton was funny . Heathers was absolute torture to sit thru.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 11:45pm

Ditto Witches of Eastwick.  Also, Zorro and Lord of the Rings from London. I thought the Mackintosh revivals of Oliver and My Fair Lady would transfer, but they never went to Broadway.

Didn't Camille Claudel receive good reviews Off-Broadway?

[Dave13]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 11:50pm

Zorro.  Played all over the world. Never made it to Broadway. I enjoyed it at a local theater.