shows that flopped that should not have- Page 2
shows that flopped that should not have
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#25re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:09pm
Shows produced by not-for-profits like Roundabout, MTC and Lincoln Center, by definition cannot flop or be a hit. They don't have investors to pay back (they're financed by a combination of private and government donations and ticket sales), so they thus, cannot "recoup." "Hit" and "flop" are terms that ONLY apply to purely commercial shows.
Thus, ASSASSINS (both the original and revival), the PACIFIC OVERTURES revival, BERNARDA ALBA, FLOYD COLLINS, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY should be left out of this discussion.
And yes, BROOKLYN is considered a flop for Broadway since it did not recoup during its engagement here.
tabbynyc
Stand-by Joined: 4/3/06
#27re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:14pm
I think Ragtime is the best show I've ever seen on Broadway, and I even went to the touring production in Minneapolis.
Side Show is a terrific musical, and thankfully not a movie onstage. I loved it.
Seeing A Year With Frog and Toad at the Children's Theatre Company next season.
Seussical. I think it's an absolute delight. I've seen it twice and really love it!
70 Girls 70. Saw the Encores and liked it so much I recommended it to a group of people who have chosen it for next season's playbill.
diva007
Stand-by Joined: 10/22/04
#28re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:27pmParade & Ragtime hands down.
#29re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:28pm
Darling of the Day should not of flopped, but sadly it was during the time the Rock Operas were surfacing and thus the "feel good" musicals didn't stand much of a chance and Darling closed after 30-some performances. But the libretto and score are fabulous. I finally got to see it in Illinois at the Light Opera Works and fell in love it it!
#30re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:40pm
Ragtime
Caroline or Change
Gypsy (2003 revival)
Passion
Danielm
Broadway Star Joined: 3/17/05
#31re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:54pmThank you Margo, you beat me in commenting on Floyd Collins, Bernarda Alba etc... I think there's some confusion on what constitutes a flop.
#32re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 2:25pm
1958's GOLDILOCKS starring Elaine Stritch and Don Ameche and featuring Russell Nype, Pat Stanley, and Margaret Hamilton, with a score by Leroy Anderson and Walter and Jean Kerr, direction by the theatre critic Walter Kerr, and choreography by the famous Agnes deMille. It was a delightful musical that never stopped being entertaining. The CD is still available. Try it!
There are countless others that could be mentioned. Check them out in the indispensable book "Not Since Carrie"(40 Years of Broadway Musical Flops) by Ken Mandelbaum.
#33re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:10pm
Indeed, Gypsy9. Some some I'm thinking of...
THE GOLDEN APPLE
CANDIDE
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
BABY
MACK AND MABEL
holdmetouchme
Chorus Member Joined: 5/3/05
#34re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:11pm
Although I consider Ragtime in the top 5 musicals of all time and it has not received the recognition it is due, I hardly consider it a flop.
My nominee - Parade.
#35re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:13pmRagtime is a flop though. It did have a nice run, but at the time of it's closing, it did not return it's investment, so it is a flop.
Maya
Swing Joined: 4/30/04
#36re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:32pm
Scarlet Pimpernel
Jane Eyre
Red Shoes (Yes, it sucked, but damn I love the story...)
Dracula (Just so we could have had Drew Sarich. He ROCKED the role in Europe!!)
Did Secret Garden recoup?
Hugs and peaches,
Maya :)
MerMaggieGalinda
Broadway Star Joined: 11/29/06
#37re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:37pmI think that the Light in the Piazza was very underrated. It has one of the most beautiful scores I've ever heard for a Broadway show, and I loved the story and the cast. Was it a limited run at Lincoln Center, or did people just not go to it? I thought it was incredible. Plus, I loved the costumes and sets.
#38re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:38pmPiazza was a Linoln Center Production. it was not-for-profit, so as Margo said, it cannot be defined as a flop or a hit. And yes, it was a limited run that was extended many times.
#39re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:48pmCaroline, or Change...
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#40re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 6:26pmMargo, I actually didn't know that. Thanks.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#41re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 6:36pm
I don't understand - most people seem to think that the quality of the material is the reason why they flopped. "How could X flop?? It had a strong book and great songs and it was so beautiful!!!"
To me, either because they opened at the wrong place or time, the publicity was bad or just because the show plain sucked, they flopped for a reason, therefore all should have - and this has nothing to do with the quality of the show itself.
It's not like some evil forces made them flop.
Craww
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#42re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 6:59pm
they flopped for a reason, therefore all should have
I get your point, but that's kind of like saying that some of these shows that had the groundwork and potential to become profitable should have been mismanaged, though.
Updated On: 4/19/07 at 06:59 PM
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#43re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 9:34pm
I forgot about Seussical. That was a great show.
Also ALL SHOOK UP. That was a fun show and it really was not bad. The problem was that it played the Palace Theatre. The biggest (if I'm not mistaking) theatre on Broadway! A show like that could never last a year there. If it played in the Al Hirschfeil (sp?) theatre it would still be running today.
#44re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 9:35pmNo, The Gershwin is the biggest theatre on Broadway. The Palace is very big, but it's not the biggest.
One Song Glory
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/12/05
#45re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 9:39pmIt's been said before, but I think Ragtime really deserved to run longer, it's such a good show.
#46re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 9:48pm
Ragtime
The Wedding Singer (shut up, I liked it)
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
#47re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 9:58pmtotally add LaChiusa's The Wild Party to this list...
#48re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 10:08pmMany that people have mentioned, but I'm going to add another checkmark to Gypsy 2003 revival and Brooklyn. Shut up, I love it.
It was awesome. - theaterkid1015
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#49re: shows that flopped that should not have
Posted: 4/19/07 at 10:30pm
THANK YOU Margo. It drives me crazy when works like Assassins are called flops. While it's true if they had been more of a success they prob woulda moved to an open ended Broadway run (the Frogs comes up a lot in flop threads and is another example).
Also one of the old threads for this called Into the Woods a flop and repeatedly everyone else listed it. I dunno--a show that runs over two years and has a 2 year National Tour doesn't strike me as a flop...
Ragimte similarly lsot a bunch of money (more than Woods) but is it really a *flop*?? For the producers I suppose but... At the least it's a success d'estime isn't it--which means it can't be a flop in my books
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