Broadway Musicals Biggest Hit Biggest Flop Songbook

Broadway Musicals Biggest Hit Biggest Flop Songbook

When "Evita" premiered on Broadway in the 1979-1980 season, it soared high and was truly adored, as one of its songs proclaimed. However, in the 1970-71 season, the producers of "Lolita, My Love" experienced a different fate – their show, as one of its songs lamented, went from "Going, Gone, Gone" after challenging tryouts in Philadelphia and Boston. Surprisingly, it never even attempted a Broadway run, despite being penned by the bookwriter-lyricist of "My Fair Lady." This pattern repeats itself season after season on Broadway, where a handful of musicals achieve resounding success while many more face disappointment.

In the following overview, we delve into the most extreme cases from each season over the past fifty years. We explore the musicals that were destined for greatness, such as "The Sound of Music," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "The Producers," and indeed became blockbusters. We also examine those productions that raised eyebrows from the moment they were announced, like "Via Galactica," "The Civil War," and "Lestat," and ended up being even worse than anticipated.

Additionally, we discuss the shows that seemed guaranteed for success, such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," and "Merrily We Roll Along," but ultimately fell short. Conversely, we touch on productions that appeared to have no chance, like "Man of La Mancha," "1776," and "Grease," yet defied the odds and achieved household-name status. Indeed, Broadway is an enduring institution filled with both triumphs and setbacks, and in this exploration, Peter Filichia sheds light on 100 shows that experienced either the highest highs or the lowest lows.