Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
I know that mambo kings went up and never played... are there any others?
Rebecca
The Baker's Wife
Didn't the marquee for Lone Star Love go up?
LONE STAR LOVE
LIPS TOGETHER TEETH APART
Annie 2: Miss Hanigan's Revenge

It seems to be an extremely rare occurrence. In most cases the producers were confident that the show would come into New York from its out-of-town tryout.
Updated On: 11/1/12 at 03:54 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
*Not sure if this counts*
The Dunkin Donuts/PRINCE OF BROADWAY billboard went up in times square advertising a Fall 2012 opening, and then it was delayed the morning after it was revealed in Times Square. When I was in the city in June, July, AND September, the PRINCE OF BROADWAY ad was still running.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
The Mambo Kings also had a huge billboard on the side of a building near 42nd and 8th across from port Authority.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
In the late 1980's I think - SENATOR JOE.
Didn't Busker's Alley have, if not a billboard, a huge painted sign on the side of a theatre go up?
Someone told me once that the maquee went up for Andrew Lloyd Webbers 'Whistle Down The Wind' at the Martin Beck theater (Al Hirschfeld) and was meant to transfer after its try out in Washington, which was directed by Harold Prince.
I don't know if there is any truth in this though?
Wasn't there a marquee for Bobbi Boland?
Featured Actor Joined: 4/13/11
I think Vanities had a marquee up at the Lyceum, but never opened on Broadway. It did open off-Broadway at Second Stage in 2009.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
"In the late 1980's I think - SENATOR JOE."
I think SENATOR JOE had a few performances.
"Wasn't there a marquee for Bobbi Boland?"
I know BOBBIE BOLAND had performances - it just didn't open.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
now did shows ever sell tickets when these marquees were up?
Paper Moon
The Miracle Worker (starring Hilary Swank)
Broadway Star Joined: 11/6/07
Did FAT PIG two years ago put up a billboard? I know they had cover art and promotion materials out.
Whistle Down the Wind even came up with a poster detailing the theatre, which I still have, won it at a silent auction.
Got Tu Go Disco...or did that play?
GOT TU GO DISCO definitely played and opened to critics. I witnessed that laughable mess of a musical.
Stand-by Joined: 5/4/08
This threat needs pictures!
This threat DOES need pictures!
A few of the aforementioned ...
http://www.broadwayspotted.com/wp-content/uploads/51.png
http://www.broadwayspotted.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2012-05-27-at-12.44.20-AM.png

The 2009 revival of BROADWAY BOUND. The production had a double marquee (the image included here); as we now know, BBM opened and BB never played a performance.
I have the commemorative Playbill from the 50th Annual Tony Awards, the back of which is a full page color ad for the "Newest Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical coming to Broadway - Whistle Down The Wind"
I remember in the 20/20 interview that Walters did with him there were clips from DC with the adage that it would be opening in NY the following year.
Videos