Biggest Musical Hit and Flop of the season

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 8:44pm

I'm currently reading critic Peter Filichia's book about the biggest musical hit and flop 1959-2009. It really made me think about what has taken these categories since then. I thought it would be interesting to pick for this season. I think a lot of it could be opinion, as Peter picked Sunset Boulevard as the biggest flop when it had won many Tonys. So it is definitely something to think about based on performances, grosses, attention and a lot more.

Hit: I was back and fourth between Once and Newsies but going to go with Once. Although Newsies proved its selling power after being a flop movie, I think Once was the "little show that could". It showed that less is more with its simple choreography and easy to follow book. I think the way it used its performers as musicians worked very well with the story. It just was like nothing I have seen in a long time. It also has done extremely well at the Tony's and its selling to capacity now. It is becoming the talk of the town as it is unique and special.

Flop: Leap of Faith. Although Bonnie and Clyde didn't play long at all, it's score will for sure be remembered, as well as Laura's performance. There really isn't much to say about Leap being the biggest flop. Although Raul was giving a great performance, the show couldn't be saved. I believe if the show had a better book, it would not have been reviewed so terribly and would have done a lot better. Sergio's choreography was one of the highlights as were several songs. If only it had lasted long enough to perform on a tv program, as it's Tony performance did get people talking. I wish this show was given more of a chance. Glad there is a cast recording!



Updated On: 6/24/12 at 08:44 PM

[JamesBroadwayWiner]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:13pm

Once and Newsies are both hits of the season (even though Once won more Tonys). It seemed like the flops were: Leap of Faith, Lysistrata Jones, and can we say JCS (the musical is great, but the production didn't do so well).

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:22pm

Nobody is gonna remember the awful score from Bonnie and Clyde. It was a mess start to finish. The hits were definitely Once and Newsies though, and if we're talking revivals, Follies. As for other flops, Leap of Faith, Ghost, Lysistrata, the list goes on and on.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:30pm

I happen to still sing some of the score from Bonny and Clyde. Thought it was pretty damn good. More memorable then let's say Next to Normal!

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:41pm

I happen to Love Bonnie & Clyde's score. If Newsies Hadn't came in this season I think the Tony would've went to Wildhorn, and I'm a big Menken fan.

Updated On: 6/24/12 at 09:41 PM

[ChenoKahn]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:43pm

TheHappyPhantom, Follies flopped. Just because you thought it was great doesn't mean it was a hit.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:53pm

FOLLIES seemed to have some moderate success, maybe not in the same way as ONCE or NEWSIES, but enough for them to be a big front-runner for Best Revival of a Musical, the whole "Jan Maxwell's Tony in the Bag" debacle, a healthy run (from what I hear) in Los Angeles, and a helluva good cast recording. This is in my opinion, of course.

Yes, BONNIE/CLYDE would be considered a flop but I am also a lover of the score. LEAP OF FAITH was probably the biggest flop this season in terms of closing, grosses, word-of-mouth, etc.

MY OPINION:
Biggest Hit... ONCE/NEWSIES
Biggest Flop... LEAP OF FAITH

[ChenoKahn]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 9:56pm

It didn't recoup. It was a flop. Plain and simple.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 10:06pm

True... but a lot of the shows from this season haven't/didn't recoup (yet or at all).

[californiasnow]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 10:06pm

Speaking of recouping, has Memphis announced that it has recouped yet?

[Jonwo]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 10:19pm

Neither Memphis or Rock of Ages have recouped despite running for 3 years.

Both Newsies and Once will recoup their investments within the next few months.

[bdn223]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 10:47pm

The Biggest hit of this season by far was Death of a Salesman
The Highest Grossing musical of the season: Evita/Spiderman
The hardest to get ticket for a musical: Newsies
Biggest Flop (money wise) Leap of Faith (Lyssie Jone or B&C cost half as much and ran twice as long)
Biggest Flop (expectations wise) On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

[jo]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 10:43am

>>The Biggest hit of this season by far was Death of a Salesman<<<

https://www2.broadwayworld.com/grossescumulative.cfm

Death of a Salesman - 108 performances - $ 12.869 million gross

Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway - 79 performances - $ 14.635 million gross


Updated On: 6/25/12 at 10:43 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 10:49am

Newsies is not the hardest show to get tickets for. MAYBE it was for the initial run...but I still managed to get group discounts for 100 people (something not possible for shows like Wicked or BOM), and was able to purchase excellent discount seats only a month ahead of time to bring my children.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 11:12am

"Although Bonnie and Clyde didn't play long at all, it's [sic] score will for sure be remembered, as well as Laura's performance."

I'll remember the score, sure - as a pedestrian collection of banal tunes and meaningless lyrics.

And only a fraction of the handful of people who actually saw the show will remember Ms. Osnes' performance, and even fewer of them will remember it for more than a few months.

Just to elucidate matter - when Filichia is talking "flops" and "hits," he's talking about both profit and expectations. "Gross" doesn't matter, particularly for a show like Spider-Man which can run at its current gross for ten years and still never show a profit.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 12:58pm

Elucidate -- I love that word!

But newintown, I beleive that the guestimates for recoupement for Spidey is much less than 10 years. I think most have been saying 4 -6 years for quite some time.

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:04pm

I'm going to say the biggest flop was MAGIC/BIRD.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 3:40pm

"I believe that the guestimates for recoupement for Spidey is much less than 10 years. I think most have been saying 4 -6 years for quite some time."

I think that estimate was based upon selling out at full price every night, which it hasn't ever done. Even this week, a pretty good one for them, they pulled in 89% of their potential, not 100%.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 4:09pm

Good point, but do you think that will make it take twice as long to recoup?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 4:09pm

Good point, but do you think that will make it take twice as long to recoup?