Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/06
what shows do you all think flopped on broadway that should not have??? i tried a search, and there hasnt been anything like this before, has there???
haha kidding!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
There have been a few...but I'm just bored right now...so:
A Class Act - That is an amazing show. It should've stayed Off-Broadway though. Although it deserved a Broadway run, there was no way it could have been a hit, especially with no "big name" stars.
A Year With Frog and Toad - Fantastic family show. But I can see why it flopped. It would've been more succesful Off-Broadway.
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only - AMAZING! It was one of the best shows on Broadway this past season. It's sad it closed so soon. But like I have said to the previous two, it would have lasted longer Off-Broadway.
Reefer Madness - It only flopped because it opened VERY shortly after 9/11. At least that's what I have come to understand. It was a fantastic show that deserved a 3 to 4 year run IMO.
Once Upon A Mattress Revival - Okay, no doubt the production was terrible, but the only REALLY bad thing about it was Sarah Jessica Parker and a couple of others who were mis-cast.
Sweet Smell of Success - Fantastic show. Beautiful score. I thought it was amazing. (I'm using that word a lot. lol)
many others that i can't think of I'm sure...
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/05
Ragtime. Brilliant, beautiful, stunning performances. It is one of the best pieces of musical theater in the history of the genre.
Carrie(great material , bad staging and direction)
Ragtime(Love it)
Peggy Sue Got Married( so much fun)
Beautiful Game(ALW Actually wrote a powerful and moving show)
Good Vibrations(so sue me hehehe)
Broadway Star Joined: 6/3/03
I have to agree with Frog and Toad. It was such a fun show. I have to add Woman In White. I loved everything about this show.
Caroline or Change
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
Oh man. Don't get me started.
Too late:
Assassins
Bright Lights, Big City
Brooklyn
Caroline or Change
Floyd Collins
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Pacific Overtures
Parade
Passion
Porgy and Bess
Ragtime
Street Scene
The Civil War
The Wild Party
Titanic
Were Bernarda Alba and Sunday in the Park with George flops?
Wasn't Assassins a limited run though?
Leading Actor Joined: 3/17/07
Caroline, Or Change
High Fidelity (Most underrated show of current season! It was mis-produced and badly staged, but the material is good. Ladies and gentlemen...Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsey-Abaire. There'll be a genius regional staging soon.)
Updated On: 4/19/07 at 10:24 AM
Ragtime and Passion! And Seussical, but only because the original concept was SOOO much better than what ended up on Broadway.
Swing Joined: 11/18/05
Dracula. It was a great show. Great sets. Good acting all around. Beautiful songs. Classic Story. Plus Kelli O'hara naked. Need I say more. I just do not understand why this was not popular. I thought it was going to be a hit when I saw it.
Urban Cowboy. The dance scene in the bar was amazing. I don't think this was great, but I saw it 3 times and my dates all liked it. All I can think is that they should have opened this in Dallas first where country singing is not looked down on.
In My Life. God who loves Volkswagen commercials. The world being run by a drama queen transvestite. An angel mother with one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. My date loved it and it stays in my mind ever since. Might be one of the most original shows I have ever seen on Broadway. I wish I had a CD of all the songs, but have not been able to find one.
Updated On: 4/19/07 at 10:46 AM
Jane Eyre
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Peggy Sue got Married was an amazing show : great songs (two kinds of fire, This time around)
The Beautiful Game Andrew's best IMHO
The Witches of Eastwick : great commedy great songs for women saw 6 times
The Wedding Singer : It made me laugh so hard, it was not the best show however it made people happy which is a good thing
Ragtime
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/06
Jane Eyre
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Caroline, Or Change
Carrie
It's a Bird!; Its' a Plane!; It's SUPERMAN!
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
"Wasn't Assassins a limited run though?"
I don't know if you know this but the official term for a flop is a show that never makes back its initial investment. Even if a show is a limited run, it needs to pay off its producers. So even if a show ran for 2 years and won the Tony for Best Musical, if it closed without its entire investment being paid back, it's a flop.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/16/05
I don't think Bernarda was a flop, was it? I'm listening now and was wondering the same question.
I think High Fidelity should have been given more of a chance to be a full-on flop, and maaaaaybe possibly potentially recoup. Its closing struck me as more than a little merciless. :/
I didn't think High Fidelity was badly staged at all. I agree with the mis-produced statement, though. There could have been much more done to make it known to the public.
Wow ... some of these responses are really mind-boggling! Wedding Singer, Urban Cowboy, Dracula, In My Life, Brooklyn, Frog and Toad, Good Vibrations, Lennon????? I saw all of these, and thought they were all stinkers. I guess every turkey will always have its admirers, but this list is surprising.
IMHO, Sideshow should not have flopped ... beautiful music, interesting story, great performances. Bad marketing. Horrible logo.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/3/06
la cage aux folles
I'm surprised to see Peggy Sue get mentioned. I saw the first night at the Shaftesbury (a friend of mine was in the ensemble) and it was.....not good. A couple of nice songs (This Time Around was the only true standout), but some real stinkers (My Baby Has That New Car Smell) as well. The score was incredibly inconsistent in style fluctuating from 50s pastische to 80s pop rock during the same time period. The staging was pedestrian and the sets mostly uninspired and bland. I think it was an excellent subject for a musical, but a complete misfire in execution.
Swing Joined: 11/18/05
I didn't think that Brooklyn was a flop. It played for a while. Most shows do not make their money back on Broadway. However, the recoop the loss in other ways.
Updated On: 4/19/07 at 12:47 PM
The Wild Party on Broadway.
The Hunting of the Snark in London
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