Top 10 Broadway Shows That Bombed So Hard They Cancelled Them Immediately
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Date: 2023-11-21
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Comments and reviews: 30
Brian
I got to see a rather lavish Orlando production of the musical Ben Hur (yeah, it really happened. The idea was to use the vacation destination as a place to preview possibly shows for Broadway. They had it all. Solid performances, costumes, sets, truly gifted singers, and some pretty nifty special effects. And that includes the chariots! The horses were fake, but they had puppet legs that were controlled by hands unseen and never lost pace. It didn't actually look like the movement of horse legs, but you had to admire the dedication. At final curtain, I happily added to the applause of an entertained crowd, but walked away kind of. meh. I mean, it wasn't awful. Would I ever see it again? Nah. Never heard a word about it after that.
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I got to see a rather lavish Orlando production of the musical Ben Hur (yeah, it really happened. The idea was to use the vacation destination as a place to preview possibly shows for Broadway. They had it all. Solid performances, costumes, sets, truly gifted singers, and some pretty nifty special effects. And that includes the chariots! The horses were fake, but they had puppet legs that were controlled by hands unseen and never lost pace. It didn't actually look like the movement of horse legs, but you had to admire the dedication. At final curtain, I happily added to the applause of an entertained crowd, but walked away kind of. meh. I mean, it wasn't awful. Would I ever see it again? Nah. Never heard a word about it after that.
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Andrew
What about the version of THE LITTLE PRINCE with Michael York? It was mind-bogglingly inept. And what about KELLEY, about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I think it ran less than a week. -(Ah. I see it only had one performance. What about MISS MOFFAT, which featured Bette Davis? Anyone besides me see Rockabye Hamlet? One of Gower Champions most notorious misfires. Back in the 1960's I loved seeing things try-out in Philadelphia. Sometimes they never made it into NYC. One such was La Belle, an adaptation of Offenbach. I thought it was charming. And shortly after, a bigger, more clumsy and vulgar version called THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD came in directed by Cyril Richard, and somehow managed to survive.
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What about the version of THE LITTLE PRINCE with Michael York? It was mind-bogglingly inept. And what about KELLEY, about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I think it ran less than a week. -(Ah. I see it only had one performance. What about MISS MOFFAT, which featured Bette Davis? Anyone besides me see Rockabye Hamlet? One of Gower Champions most notorious misfires. Back in the 1960's I loved seeing things try-out in Philadelphia. Sometimes they never made it into NYC. One such was La Belle, an adaptation of Offenbach. I thought it was charming. And shortly after, a bigger, more clumsy and vulgar version called THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD came in directed by Cyril Richard, and somehow managed to survive.
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Ron
In chronological order (with # of performances):
'Anyone Can Whistle' - 1964 (9)
'Kelly' - 1965 (1)
'A Teaspoon Every Four Hours' - 1969 (1)
'A Broadway Musical' - 1978 (1)
'Bring Back Birdie' - 1981 (4)
'Lolita' - 1981 (12)
'Moose Murders' - 1983 (1)
'Carrie' - 1988 (5)
'High Fidelity' - 2006 (13)
'Tuck Everlasting' - 2016 (39)
Of these shows, the only ones which were NOT musicals were 'A Teaspoon Every Four Hours, ' 'Lolita' (a musical version of which from 1971 -- as noted -- did not even make it to Broadway, and 'Moose Murders'.
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In chronological order (with # of performances):
'Anyone Can Whistle' - 1964 (9)
'Kelly' - 1965 (1)
'A Teaspoon Every Four Hours' - 1969 (1)
'A Broadway Musical' - 1978 (1)
'Bring Back Birdie' - 1981 (4)
'Lolita' - 1981 (12)
'Moose Murders' - 1983 (1)
'Carrie' - 1988 (5)
'High Fidelity' - 2006 (13)
'Tuck Everlasting' - 2016 (39)
Of these shows, the only ones which were NOT musicals were 'A Teaspoon Every Four Hours, ' 'Lolita' (a musical version of which from 1971 -- as noted -- did not even make it to Broadway, and 'Moose Murders'.
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Oliver
So. no mention of A Doll's Life, the 1982 Harold Prince-directed musical sequel to Ibsen's A Doll's House with music by Larry Grossman, and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green? Another unappreciated show that might fare better in an opera house revival, its original. production closed after only five performances. In 2017, a non-musical play called A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath, based on exactly the same premise, had a bit more success, lasting about five months on Broadway.
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So. no mention of A Doll's Life, the 1982 Harold Prince-directed musical sequel to Ibsen's A Doll's House with music by Larry Grossman, and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green? Another unappreciated show that might fare better in an opera house revival, its original. production closed after only five performances. In 2017, a non-musical play called A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath, based on exactly the same premise, had a bit more success, lasting about five months on Broadway.
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Robert
There is a legendary London flop, which probably doesn't count because it was a revue rather than a musical, but the Intimate Revue of 1930 was a hilarious (but in the worst way) confection that had battling stage hands, half cocked set changes, incomprehensible songs, and so many scenes that it had to be abridged (it basically had to finish two thirds of the way through. It is a legendary, massive, glorious flop.
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There is a legendary London flop, which probably doesn't count because it was a revue rather than a musical, but the Intimate Revue of 1930 was a hilarious (but in the worst way) confection that had battling stage hands, half cocked set changes, incomprehensible songs, and so many scenes that it had to be abridged (it basically had to finish two thirds of the way through. It is a legendary, massive, glorious flop.
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pnighswander
Boulbil and Schoenberg created Martin Guerre in 1995 and it failed. They did a reboot a couple of years later. I did not see either, but I do own the soundtracks for both. The original is gorgeous. Songs like When Will Someone Hear, Working on the Land, Martin Guerre, and Bethlehem (stunning) are beautiful and are in the original. It was very hard to get when I bought it and now its on Amazon Music and Apple
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Boulbil and Schoenberg created Martin Guerre in 1995 and it failed. They did a reboot a couple of years later. I did not see either, but I do own the soundtracks for both. The original is gorgeous. Songs like When Will Someone Hear, Working on the Land, Martin Guerre, and Bethlehem (stunning) are beautiful and are in the original. It was very hard to get when I bought it and now its on Amazon Music and Apple
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Christopher
I have to give an honourable mention here to Keep Off The Grass, which starred Jimmy Durante, Ray Bolger, Jane Froman, Virginia O'Brien, Emmett Kelly, Ilka Chase and Jackie Gleason, who said, That show closed so fast, I nearly got caught in the door. He made that observation in his now-classic TV apology for the infamous game show bomb You're In The Picture. In reality, the show ran for 44 performances.
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I have to give an honourable mention here to Keep Off The Grass, which starred Jimmy Durante, Ray Bolger, Jane Froman, Virginia O'Brien, Emmett Kelly, Ilka Chase and Jackie Gleason, who said, That show closed so fast, I nearly got caught in the door. He made that observation in his now-classic TV apology for the infamous game show bomb You're In The Picture. In reality, the show ran for 44 performances.
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Joseph
Growing up in Philadelphia, I had the great opportunity to see a few flops trying out prior to moving (or not) to Broadway including Miss Moffat (with Bette Davis, Ari, the musical adaptation of The Exodus, Home Sweet Homer, and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It was also fun to see how much a show could change from Philadelphia to Broadway including Irene, Chicago, and Sugar to name just a few.
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Growing up in Philadelphia, I had the great opportunity to see a few flops trying out prior to moving (or not) to Broadway including Miss Moffat (with Bette Davis, Ari, the musical adaptation of The Exodus, Home Sweet Homer, and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It was also fun to see how much a show could change from Philadelphia to Broadway including Irene, Chicago, and Sugar to name just a few.
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Brent
Unless, perhaps, they happen to be housed in the smaller Broadway venues like the Helen Hayes or the Circle In The Square, musicals with more modest cast sizes like High Fidelity or Amour can still having fruitful runs Off-Broadway or in regional playhouses. Reefer Madness and The Last Five Years have yet to make it to Broadway, and they're both really, really good!
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Unless, perhaps, they happen to be housed in the smaller Broadway venues like the Helen Hayes or the Circle In The Square, musicals with more modest cast sizes like High Fidelity or Amour can still having fruitful runs Off-Broadway or in regional playhouses. Reefer Madness and The Last Five Years have yet to make it to Broadway, and they're both really, really good!
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Michael
I have scrolled down this list. Let's clear up the ignorance. If you're a Broadway musical fan, be a Broadway musical fan.
1. Shows are not canceled. Shows are closed.
2. Stage musicals do not have soundtracks. They are Cast Recordings. If it is the first recording of a show, it is called an original cast recording.
Yes. It is a thing. It is important.
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I have scrolled down this list. Let's clear up the ignorance. If you're a Broadway musical fan, be a Broadway musical fan.
1. Shows are not canceled. Shows are closed.
2. Stage musicals do not have soundtracks. They are Cast Recordings. If it is the first recording of a show, it is called an original cast recording.
Yes. It is a thing. It is important.
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David
I saw Chess on Broadway in 1988. It was a huge success in the UK, but then they rewrote it to up the drama and emotion for the U. S. audience. It flopped. It ran 44 performances. At the time, it was one of the most expensive flops of all time. Its failure was overshadowed by the failure of Carrie, however, which had opened and closed about a month earlier.
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I saw Chess on Broadway in 1988. It was a huge success in the UK, but then they rewrote it to up the drama and emotion for the U. S. audience. It flopped. It ran 44 performances. At the time, it was one of the most expensive flops of all time. Its failure was overshadowed by the failure of Carrie, however, which had opened and closed about a month earlier.
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fanjoy
The Little Prince and the Aviator at the Alvin Theater. Written by Hugh Wheeler (Sweeney Todd, Irene, A Little Night Music, Music by John Barry (James Bond films, Lyrics by Don Black (Song and Dance, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, starring Michael York.
Closed January 17, 1982 after 20 previews. Never opened. That's a bomb; and I was there.
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The Little Prince and the Aviator at the Alvin Theater. Written by Hugh Wheeler (Sweeney Todd, Irene, A Little Night Music, Music by John Barry (James Bond films, Lyrics by Don Black (Song and Dance, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, starring Michael York.
Closed January 17, 1982 after 20 previews. Never opened. That's a bomb; and I was there.
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Momby82
Carrie the musical is such a cult classic among theater actors, though. Ive seen several high school, college, and small theaters perform that play and its always such a good time. I recommend looking up theaters in your area to see if its being performed near you. Usually your best bet is in the fall around Halloween.
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Carrie the musical is such a cult classic among theater actors, though. Ive seen several high school, college, and small theaters perform that play and its always such a good time. I recommend looking up theaters in your area to see if its being performed near you. Usually your best bet is in the fall around Halloween.
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Gary
Another ill-fated musical was Kander & Ebbs 70 Girls 70 which only lasted 35 performances. Perhaps an omen, cast member David Burns died on stage during one of its Philadelphia previews, to be replaced by Hans Conreid when it opened on Broadway a month later. A month after that it was gone.
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Another ill-fated musical was Kander & Ebbs 70 Girls 70 which only lasted 35 performances. Perhaps an omen, cast member David Burns died on stage during one of its Philadelphia previews, to be replaced by Hans Conreid when it opened on Broadway a month later. A month after that it was gone.
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Douglas
Had tickets to see High Fidelity the weekend after it closed. Went to Spring Awakening instead for one of their first showsclearly the better choice! I get a good laugh though every time I go to Joe Allen and see the High Fidelity poster on their wall of failed Broadway productions.
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Had tickets to see High Fidelity the weekend after it closed. Went to Spring Awakening instead for one of their first showsclearly the better choice! I get a good laugh though every time I go to Joe Allen and see the High Fidelity poster on their wall of failed Broadway productions.
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charles
I have a few bombs in my time. I took my mom to see Annie 2 Miss Hanigan revenge. The set got more applause then the cast. I've also seen Teddy a musical about Teddy Roosevelt. Using only Souza marches. I saw Satchmo. It closed out of town. And yes I saw Legs Diamond.
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I have a few bombs in my time. I took my mom to see Annie 2 Miss Hanigan revenge. The set got more applause then the cast. I've also seen Teddy a musical about Teddy Roosevelt. Using only Souza marches. I saw Satchmo. It closed out of town. And yes I saw Legs Diamond.
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babeandandy
To be fair, Carrie wouldve run longer despite the negative reviews. It had the largest presale of a Broadway show at the time. But the producer stole the money and ran off to Germany. The actors, crew, and musicians ended up not even being paid.
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To be fair, Carrie wouldve run longer despite the negative reviews. It had the largest presale of a Broadway show at the time. But the producer stole the money and ran off to Germany. The actors, crew, and musicians ended up not even being paid.
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SchwarzBass
Not sure why Nine was referenced in shows that did poorly. It wasn't exactly a flop! It ran for a couple of years and also had a revival in 2003. It ran in London and had national (and international) tours. It's also a musical I simply adore.
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Not sure why Nine was referenced in shows that did poorly. It wasn't exactly a flop! It ran for a couple of years and also had a revival in 2003. It ran in London and had national (and international) tours. It's also a musical I simply adore.
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Leslie
At intermission, a humongous patron in my aisle at Tuck Everlasting, fell on me in his rush to the men's room. He broke my wrist and I spent the usual 6 weeks in an unforgettable fashion arm cast. But I don't remember most of the show's cast.
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At intermission, a humongous patron in my aisle at Tuck Everlasting, fell on me in his rush to the men's room. He broke my wrist and I spent the usual 6 weeks in an unforgettable fashion arm cast. But I don't remember most of the show's cast.
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atleynater
one of my favorite flops is Rockabye Hamlet! it's a rock musical about. Hamlet. it had 21 previews and 7 performances. i never got to see it on broadway, but i've seen some performances online and listened to the 10 song cast recording.
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one of my favorite flops is Rockabye Hamlet! it's a rock musical about. Hamlet. it had 21 previews and 7 performances. i never got to see it on broadway, but i've seen some performances online and listened to the 10 song cast recording.
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Toto
I have worked for many years behind the scenes in theatre and film. I found all musicals exasperatingly boring, and a waste of time. The only interesting thing was the big bucks. Stage and film acting in non musicals was very interesting.
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I have worked for many years behind the scenes in theatre and film. I found all musicals exasperatingly boring, and a waste of time. The only interesting thing was the big bucks. Stage and film acting in non musicals was very interesting.
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James
The 1980 comedy THE ROAST lasted five performances. (It was co-written by Garry Marshall, who created TV sitcoms like HAPPY DAYS and went on to direct movies like PRETTY WOMAN)
Didn't they repaint the whole theatre black for CARRIE?
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The 1980 comedy THE ROAST lasted five performances. (It was co-written by Garry Marshall, who created TV sitcoms like HAPPY DAYS and went on to direct movies like PRETTY WOMAN)
Didn't they repaint the whole theatre black for CARRIE?
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pnighswander
I remember seeing Side by Side by Sondheim and there are three songs from ACW. All beautiful. With respect to Harry Guardino and Lee Remick, fine actors. They are not singers and Angela cant carry the show by herself
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I remember seeing Side by Side by Sondheim and there are three songs from ACW. All beautiful. With respect to Harry Guardino and Lee Remick, fine actors. They are not singers and Angela cant carry the show by herself
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Robert
There are way to many musical adaptations these days of good storys. Not enough going to be canceled, too much is downgraded by being forced into a musical. Hamiltons happens rarly, almost never or once in a decade
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There are way to many musical adaptations these days of good storys. Not enough going to be canceled, too much is downgraded by being forced into a musical. Hamiltons happens rarly, almost never or once in a decade
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Kestrel
I saw one of those 13 performances of High Fidelity, I really enjoyed it, had a couple of really fun songs. It was kind of a time piece though, Probably would have done better if it debuted 10 years earlier.
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I saw one of those 13 performances of High Fidelity, I really enjoyed it, had a couple of really fun songs. It was kind of a time piece though, Probably would have done better if it debuted 10 years earlier.
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Bethany
10: Tuck Everlasting
9: High Fidelity
8: Lolita
7: Anyone Can Whistle
6: Carrie
5: Bring Back Birdie
4: A Broadway Musical
3: Kelly
2: A Teaspoon Every Four Hours
1: Moose Murders
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10: Tuck Everlasting
9: High Fidelity
8: Lolita
7: Anyone Can Whistle
6: Carrie
5: Bring Back Birdie
4: A Broadway Musical
3: Kelly
2: A Teaspoon Every Four Hours
1: Moose Murders
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deadpan80
While Moose Murders definitely deserves the top spot on this list - Frankenstein from 1981 deserves placement here. Another one night only wonder, it was a very fascinating and costly bomb.
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While Moose Murders definitely deserves the top spot on this list - Frankenstein from 1981 deserves placement here. Another one night only wonder, it was a very fascinating and costly bomb.
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robert
A few Sondheim songs? It is one of his best scores! It was ahead of its time. With the political insanity that is going on today, it is more meaningful now than it was in the 1960s.
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A few Sondheim songs? It is one of his best scores! It was ahead of its time. With the political insanity that is going on today, it is more meaningful now than it was in the 1960s.
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Ron
'Moose Murders' playwright Arthur Bicknell later wrote a memoir about the experience, entitled, 'Moose Murdered: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Brodway Bomb. ': )
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'Moose Murders' playwright Arthur Bicknell later wrote a memoir about the experience, entitled, 'Moose Murdered: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Brodway Bomb. ': )
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John
Flahooly - starring Yma Sumac and Barbara Cook - It was Barbara's first show and she went on to be a Broadway legend - at one time the cast album lp sold for big money -
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Flahooly - starring Yma Sumac and Barbara Cook - It was Barbara's first show and she went on to be a Broadway legend - at one time the cast album lp sold for big money -
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