Those Big Fat Hits On Broadway, But Flopped In The West End?

[Phantom of London]

Just really curious on those musicals and plays that done well on Broadway, but tanked in the West End?

[Adara]

It is an interesting phenomenon with which I am somewhat more familiar in the reverse. (Did well in the West End but tanked on Broadway.) I tend to think the problem is often with the producers/creative team thinking they need to change the show for the audience on the other side of the Atlantic, rather than with the show itself not connecting with the other audience. (What Broadway did to "Starlight Express" was criminal.)

[firefingers]

Drowsy Chaperone cones to mind. And RENT never did particularly well over here.

[Jon]

Spring Awakening only lasted 2 months at the Novello despite a successful run at the Lyric Hammersmith.

In terms of West End to Broadway flops. Enron and Coram Boys closed early and Chess was a colossal flop

[mallardo]

Woman in White flopped big time on Broadway. I thought it would do better.

[d'James]

Feb 5, 2016 23:24:22 GMT Adara said:

It is an interesting phenomenon with which I am somewhat more familiar in the reverse. (Did well in the West End but tanked on Broadway.) I tend to think the problem is often with the producers/creative team thinking they need to change the show for the audience on the other side of the Atlantic, rather than with the show itself not connecting with the other audience. (What Broadway did to "Starlight Express" was criminal.)

I know the changes they made for Starlight on Broadway, I just wish I could see it. (Same with all the different versions of it, especially 1984!!)

[Adara]

I actually apologized to people. I had recommended Starlight based on the London production, and then after I saw it on Broadway, I kept saying, "No, no, it wasn't like this. It was GOOD."

[Phantom of London]

Hang on guys, I will so a different opposite thread to this one in due course.

[Someone in a tree]

What on earth happened to Starlight ? This piece really did not need to reinterpreted

[Adara]

Feb 6, 2016 1:35:29 GMT Someone in a tree said:

What on earth happened to Starlight ? This piece really did not need to reinterpreted

Two things stood out.

1. The set. The magnificent race-all-around-the-audience set was turned into a do-half-assed-loops-around-the-first-few-rows endeavor. What had been impressive and involving in London now just looked stupid.
2. The Silver Dollar was added. A shiny oversized silver dollar coin (which at least one reviewer described as the cheapest-looking thing on the set) was placed center stage. It was the prize all the trains were racing for. They even sang a song about it. I assume this was because someone decided silly Americans wouldn't understand the idea of racing for honor or glory; we'd only get it if the trains were racing for a monetary prize.

[Deleted]

London is where you make a reputation, Broadway is where you just make money - Joe Orton (quoting someone else?). Still true/ever true?

I'd probably choose the money, but I'm shallow and lazy.

[Deleted]

Although it's been a hit in other productions, the original Sweeney Todd with Dennis Quilley and Sheila Hancock at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane failed to  match the success of the American production.

I went to see it as a teenager just as it opened and was so taken with it I booked again for a few weeks ahead. I remember sitting in the stalls before the performance seeing two front of house staff shaking their heads and looking at all the empty seats.

It was a huge theatre to fill though, and as much as I enjoyed it I think subsequent smaller productions were better.

[Mark]

Spring Awakening is the one that instantly comes to mind, as does Drowsy Chaperone.

[Deleted]

Going back ages, Finian's Rainbow flopped badly, as did Carnival, both a bit too whimsical maybe, same with Upon a Mattress which stiffed (although it didn't hurt Brigadoon)? 1776 probably hadn't got the same resonance here so flopped (as good a show as it is) as did the original Pippin. A little later both the burlesque tribute Sugar Babies (with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller) tanked, as did The Mystery of Edwin Drood (including a Morecambe-less Wise). Grand Hotel was badly advised to go into the barn-like Dominion and flopped, Movin Out similarly at the Apollo Victoria.

Given its subsequent life it should also be mentioned that the original Grease packed up six months after opening here.

[Deleted]

Ann Miller, bless her. In Sugar Babies at the Savoy she was practically dragging her oxygen tank around with her.

[Phantom of London]

Getting some great feedback so far.

Starlight Express at the Gershwin, I understand that the bridge failed, but luckily it failed in a good position, where it was still usable and the tickets weren't selling and the repair cost was prohibitive, so they left it?

Also reading about Grand Hotel and Sweeney Todd there seems a good case of doing a thread, right show, wrong theatre?

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2016 18:25:41 GMT Phantom of London said:

Also reading about Grand Hotel and Sweeney Todd there seems a good case of doing a thread, right show, wrong theatre?

Having seen both of these productions, I couldn't agree more.
Add to this list, the second coming of Evita, Love Never Dies...

[Deleted]

With regard to shows from WE to Broadway bombing, Sandy Wilson talked in an old TV documentary I watched recently (recommended by a poster on the old board) of The Boyfriend. Successful here but ruined by Broadway producers when they tried to turn it into a burlesque show. SW disagreed with them but was literally thrown out of the theatre for daring to have his say about his show!