Episoder
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Because we all used CliffsNotes more often than we're comfortable to admit.
On Part II of The Books You Claim To Have Read, "nothing has changed" as Bobby and Kristina discuss 1992's Anna Karenina on Season Two, Episode 6 of My Favorite Flop.
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Because we all used CliffsNotes more often than we're comfortable to admit.
On Part I of The Books You Claim To Have Read, "the road goes on" as Bobby and Kristina discuss 2007's Lord of the Rings on Season Two, Episode 5 of My Favorite Flop.
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Manglende episoder?
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While most Broadway shows make it to opening night - sometimes, a preview is enough.
On Part II of A Preview Was Enough, "a day will never be the same" as Bobby and Kristina discuss 1981's The Little Prince and the Aviator on Season Two, Episode 4 of My Favorite Flop.
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While most Broadway shows make it to opening night - sometimes, a preview is enough.
On Part I of A Preview Was Enough, "Hollywood is dying" as Bobby and Kristina discuss 1973's Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It!) on Season Two, Episode 3 of My Favorite Flop.
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It's time to break some legs and keep that "M" word out of your mouths, kids, because Bobby and Kristina are back with Part II of The Curse of the Longacre (dunn, dunn, dunn!!!) to discuss 2013's First Date on Season Two, Episode Two of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT THE CURSE OF THE LONGACRE
In theatrical history, baseball and Broadway have not been very compatible companions. There are two theories about this animosity. The first is that more theatre tickets are bought by women than men and that women are not overly fond of the sport. The second theory centers on the legendary Curse of the Bambino.
In 1916, a Broadway producer and theatre owner named Harry Frazee bought the Boston Red Sox. He was an avid baseball lover, but he made a fatal error. In 1920, he sold Boston pitcher Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. The Red Sox didn't win another World Series for over 80 years (they won in 2004), leading fans to believe the team was under The Curse of the Bambino. To add insult to injury, when reporters asked Frazee why he sold the immortal Babe Ruth to New York, he replied that he wanted the $125,000 to produce a Broadway musical. The show turned out to be the hit No, No, Nanette, which further enraged Boston. Legend has it that since then, no Broadway show about baseball could succeed. And many haven't.
Of course, there have been notable exceptions that have defied the infamous curse: the most famous being the 1955 smash hit Damn Yankees, starring Gwen Verdon. But even this show started with a jinx. The musical's initial artwork featured Verdon garbed in a drab baseball uniform, and tickets were not selling very well. When producers changed the cover photo to Verdon in sexy black lingerie (after all, she did play a tempting seductress in the musical), the box office suddenly responded. The show won seven Tony Awards and ran for 1,019 performances.
Harry Frazee also famously built Broadway's Longacre Theatre. At first, the large theater was home to a series of hit shows, but after the infamous Baseball trade, it began to struggle. Many plays and musicals have premiere there over the years and the flops have outnumbered the successes. Sometimes the theater stands empty for long periods of time as Broadway producers are notoriously superstitious and it is considered by some to truly be a cursed house and they would rather not mount their show at all than to risk mounting it there.
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It's time to grab your cleats and jockstraps, kids, because we're back with a brand new season and this time our episodes are themed and paired! To kick things off, Bobby and Kristina will be exploring whether or not baseball and Broadway can actually coexist as they cover The Curse of the Longacre (dunn, dunn, dunn!!!) and then learn more about "the worst job in the world" as they discuss 2021's Diana, The Musical on the Season Two premiere of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT THE CURSE OF THE LONGACRE
In theatrical history, baseball and Broadway have not been very compatible companions. There are two theories about this animosity. The first is that more theatre tickets are bought by women than men and that women are not overly fond of the sport. The second theory centers on the legendary Curse of the Bambino.
In 1916, a Broadway producer and theatre owner named Harry Frazee bought the Boston Red Sox. He was an avid baseball lover, but he made a fatal error. In 1920, he sold Boston pitcher Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. The Red Sox didn't win another World Series for over 80 years (they won in 2004), leading fans to believe the team was under The Curse of the Bambino. To add insult to injury, when reporters asked Frazee why he sold the immortal Babe Ruth to New York, he replied that he wanted the $125,000 to produce a Broadway musical. The show turned out to be the hit No, No, Nanette, which further enraged Boston. Legend has it that since then, no Broadway show about baseball could succeed. And many haven't.
Of course, there have been notable exceptions that have defied the infamous curse: the most famous being the 1955 smash hit Damn Yankees, starring Gwen Verdon. But even this show started with a jinx. The musical's initial artwork featured Verdon garbed in a drab baseball uniform, and tickets were not selling very well. When producers changed the cover photo to Verdon in sexy black lingerie (after all, she did play a tempting seductress in the musical), the box office suddenly responded. The show won seven Tony Awards and ran for 1,019 performances.
Harry Frazee also famously built Broadway's Longacre Theatre. At first, the large theater was home to a series of hit shows, but after the infamous Baseball trade, it began to struggle. Many plays and musicals have premiere there over the years and the flops have outnumbered the successes. Sometimes the theater stands empty for long periods of time as Broadway producers are notoriously superstitious and it is considered by some to truly be a cursed house and they would rather not mount their show at all than to risk mounting it there.
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Sorry, Mother, but apparently you can go "back to before" as hosts Bobby and Kristina look back on our entire first season and share cut soundbites and bloopers on My Favorite Flop's second super special, limited-edition Christmas Special!
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"Are you ready for tonight?" "Simple ain't easy" and this isn't "just another song" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss a whole bunch of Clopenings (shows that closed on opening night) on the season one finale of My Favorite Flop.
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We're all just "children of the wind" in this "brave new world" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1986's Rags on episode twenty one of My Favorite Flop.
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"Tomorrow is now" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1989's Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge and 1993's Annie Warbucks on episode twenty of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT ANNIE 2: MISS HANNIGAN'S REVENGE
The first official attempt at a sequel to the hit Broadway musical Annie, Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge follows the continued story of villainous Miss Hannigan as she escapes from prison to marry Daddy Warbucks, steal his fortune, and rid the world of of Little Orphan Annie once and for all. The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charin, and music by Charles Strouse.
At the closing performance of Annie 1, lyricist Martin Charnin stood onstage and told the audience that the story of Annie was not over and that a sequel to the musical was already in the works. Six years later, hundreds of little girls in their red velvet dresses pilgrimaged to Washington D.C. with their parents to get a first look at what was excepted to be one of the biggest hits on Broadway the following season. Little did they know that Annie 2 would feature very little Annie at all and, instead, would tell the misguided redemption story of the first musical's villain.
The entire project was a manifestation of the creative team's own insecurities of now being best-known for writing a fluffy kids musical and not their more-serious previous works... so, they set out to prove to the industry that they could follow it up with something more complex and grown up. The happy endings we see at the end of Annie 1 we find out were short lived. Daddy Warbucks discovers that he can't legally adopt Annie as a single father, so he must find a wife and because of that, Annie's future is uncertain. Grace, who has genuine feelings for the billionaire, must balance her career and personal life as she is passed over for other candidates. And Hannigan must come to terms with her quest for revenge and money as she confronts her own past and humanity.
The creative team had hoped that fans of the original musical had grown up with them and would appreciate their cynical take on what happens after "tomorrow". Sadly, "something was missing", and what that was what attracted so many fans to the original piece - the absolute charm of Annie and her orphan friends. Throughout the run in D.C., desperate changes were made to the show to fix that tonal issues, including adding more Annie and additional orphan characters from the original, but a major financial backer decided to leave the show and it's scheduled Broadway run (the marquee was already up!) was cancelled.
Annie 2 would then go through a process of rewrites and restructuring at the Goodspeed Opera House that would not only remove Miss Hannigan from the show's title, but from the show completely... eventually evolving into a different sequel titled Annie Warbucks!
Original Washington Cast
Dorothy Loudon as Miss HanniganFiely Matias as The AspGerry McIntyre as PunjabLauren Mitchell as Grace FarrellHarve Presnell as Oliver WarbucksDanielle Findley as Annie WarbucksBeau as SandyMarian Seldes as Mrs. ChristmasRonny Graham as Lionel McCoyTerrence P. Currier as DrakeRaymond Thorne as FDREllyn Arons as Eleanor RooseveltABOUT ANNIE WARBUCKS
Another attempt at as a sequel to the hit Broadway musical Annie, Annie Warbucks begins immediately after Annie ends as Daddy Warbucks learns that he must marry within sixty days or else Annie will be returned to the orphanage. The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charin, and music by Charles Strouse.
Annie Warbucks was developed in a workshop at the Goodspeed Opera House, directed by Charnin and choreographed by Peter Gennaro and under the direction of Michael P. Price, Executive Director. The musical played several out-of-town tryouts, starting at the Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago in February through April 1992 and then the Drury Lane in Oak Brook, Illinois, followed by a five city United States tour, including San Diego in October 1992.
It was originally planned that Annie Warbucks would open on Broadway, but a "major investor pulled out". Some characters were cut and the budget reduced, leading to delays. The Off-Broadway production opened on August 9, 1993, at the Variety Arts Theatre. The cast included Harve Presnell as Warbucks, Donna McKechnie as Sheila Kelly, and Kathryn Zaremba in the title role. The show broke all off-Broadway box office records for the time, running for 200 performances.
The producers considered moving the show from the Variety Arts Theater to Broadway, and they secured $2.5 million from an investor for a move to Broadway, but discovered they couldn't make the move in time to be eligible for Tony Award consideration, which was a big part of the reason for moving in the first place. A provision in the Tony rules required that a show had to transfer to a Tony-eligible theatre within 30 weeks of its original opening in order to qualify for any nominations. The investor pulled out, ending the plans.
Original Off-Broadway Cast
Kathryn Zaremba as Annie WarbucksHarve Presnell as Daddy WarbucksDonna McKechnie as Mrs. Sheila KellyAlene Robertson as Commissioner Harriet DoyleMarguerite MacIntyre as Grace FarrellKip Niven as DrakeRaymond Thorne as FDRCindy Lou as Sandy -
Get ready to "say a prayer" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2002's Dance of the Vampires on episode nineteen of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES
Based on the Roman Polanski film The Fearless Vampire Killers, Dance of the Vampires follows Professor Abronsius as he attempts to prove the existence of vampires in Transylvania while his bumbling assistant Alfred falls for innkeeper's daughter Sarah, unaware that she is being pursued by the mysterious Count von Krolock. The musical features a book by Jim Steinman, Michael Kunze, and David Ives and music and lyrics by Jim Steinman.
Academy Award-winning film director Roman Polanski was inspired to adapt his cult comedy for the musical stage after being approached to work on a theatrical production of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. Composer Jim Steinman and book writer/lyricist Michael Kunze were ultimately chosen to collaborate based on both of their previous bodies of work, with Steinman literally being chosen by the director after putting 5 of his preexisting songs into a rough outline by Kunze (all of which remained in the final version of the show, including the hit song "Total Eclipse of the Heart"). The show, then known as Tanz der Vampire, originally opened on October 4, 1997 in Vienna, Austria where it ran for over 2 years. A new production opened in Germany following its closing and has played somewhere in the country almost consistently to this very day.
Because of that, Tanz de Vampire is one of the most successful musicals in European history. From its premiere, English producers were seeking to bring the show to English-speaking countries. Composer Steinman was no stranger to the theater scene in New York, having spent five years under the professional wing of New York Shakespeare Festival founder Joseph Papp in the early Seventies. After briefly considering a West End run, it was decided to bring the musical (now titled Dance of the Vampires) to Broadway instead. After several failed attempts, many rewrites, and replacements on the creative team, Dance of the Vampires finally opened December 9, 2002.
The Broadway version of the show was critically lambasted and the work of lead performer Michael Crawford was reviewed particularly harshly. When the reviews came out, Jim Steinman made a show of his disapproval of the project by not attending opening night and publicly distancing himself from the show.
On January 25, 2003, after 56 performances, Dance of the Vampires closed. According to The New York Times, it was "one of the costliest failures in Broadway history", losing roughly $12 million, easily eclipsing the infamous musical Carrie.
Original Broadway Cast
Michael Crawford as Count Giovanni Von KrolockMandy Gonzalez as SarahRené Auberjonois as Professor AbronsiusMax von Essen as AlfredRon Orbach as ChagalLeah Hocking as MagdaLiz McCartney as RebeccaAsa Somers as HerbertMark Price as BorisErin Leigh Peck as Zsa-ZsaE. Alyssa Claar as Nadja -
"Embrace it", "there's always a tomorrow" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2004's Dracula, The Musical and 2006's Lestat on episode eighteen of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT DRACULA, THE MUSICAL
Based on the Victorian novel by Bram Stoker, Dracula, The Musical tells the story of the famed vampire as he lusts for new blood. Jonathan Harker and Mina Murray fall victim to Dracula's unnatural charm and, along with Doctor Van Helsing, must fight Dracula's supernatural powers. The musical features music by Frank Wildhorn and book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black.
Following a record-breaking run at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2001, the musical finally opened on Broadway to mostly negative reviews 3 years later in 2004. Though this production was intended as a serious, dramatic interpretation of the source material, critics complained of a complete lack of emotion in general, and of suspense and horror in particular. Also, while the plot of the musical hits all the major points of Stoker's novel, critics felt it did so in such an obtuse way that audience members unfamiliar with the story may find themselves unable to comprehend the action.
Despite failing on Broadway, the musical has gone on to become extremely popular throughout Europe and Asia. The musical made its international debut at Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland in 2005, with notable productions following in the UK, Tokyo, and Seoul.
Original Broadway Cast
Melissa Errico as Mina MurrayTom Hewitt as DraculaStephen McKinley Henderson as Abraham Van HelsingChris Hoch as Arthur HolmwoodKelli O'Hara as Lucy WestenraDarren Ritchie as Jonathan HarkerBart Shatto as Quincey MorrisDon Stephenson as RenfieldShonn Wiley as Jack SewardLena Hall as Second VampireMelissa Fagan as Third VampireJenifer Foote as First VampireMichael Herwitz as ChildPamela Jordan as Third Vampire (Alternate)Elizabeth Loyacano as Second Vampire (Alternate)Tracy Miller as First Vampire (Alternate)Matthew Nardozzi as Child (Alternate)Graham Rowat as EnsembleABOUT LESTAT
Inspired by three of the novels in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, Lestat tells the story of a man who escapes the tyranny of his oppressive family only to have his life taken from him by the vampire, Magnus. The musical features music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin, and a book by Linda Woolverton.
Officially the highest-earning pre-Broadway play in San Francisco history (beating out Wicked AND Cats), Lestat finally opened on Broadway at the Palace Theater on March 25, 2006 after a series of drastic revisions. Reviews of the Broadway production were uniformly negative. Ben Brantley famously described the show as a "musical sleeping pill" and Peter Marks of the Washington Post remarked that apparently "a gay vampire with a two-octave range can be just as dull as a straight one."
The musical closed on May 28, 2006, after 33 previews and 39 performances. An Original Broadway Cast Recording was recorded by Mercury Records a week earlier, however, after the show's closing, Elton John's management stated "there are no plans to release the recording..." Lestat has not been seen again (at least officially) since its original run.
Original Off-Broadway Cast
Hugh Panaro as LestatCarolee Carmello as GabrielleAllison Fischer as ClaudiaMichael Genet as MariusRoderick Hill as NicolasDrew Sarich as ArmandJim Stanek as LouisRachel Coloff as EnsembleNikki Renée Daniels as EleniJoseph Dellger as MagnusColleen Fitzpatrick as EnsemblePatrick Mellen as EnsembleChris Peluso as EnsembleDominique Plaisant as EnsembleMegan Reinking as Beautiful WomanWill Swenson as Marquis/LaurentTommar Wilson as Ensemble -
It's time to finish that "book report" on "Edgar Allan Poe" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1971's You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and 1982's Snoopy! The Musical on episode seventeen of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
Based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown shares the story of a day in the life of everybody's favorite blockhead, Charlie Brown. The musical features music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and a book by John Gordon.
Following an unprecedented run of 1,597 performances off-Broadway, the musical finally opened to mixed reviews on The Great White Way on June 1, 1971 and closed 32 performances later. Many critics had felt that much of its original charm had evaporated during the transfer. Despite that, the musical became a popular staple in the amateur theater market and is known as one of the most beloved musicals of all time.
In 1998, a significantly revised version of the musical set out on a national tour before opening on Broadway the following year. It featured new dialogue by Michael Mayer, who also directed, and additional songs and orchestration written by composer Andrew Lippa. The character of Patty was replaced with Sally Brown, inspired by the same change Schulz made in the animated TV adaptation in the 1980s. The cast featured Anthony Rapp as Charlie Brown, B.D. Wong as Linus, Ilana Levine as Lucy, and Stanley Wayne Mathis as Schroeder. Also featured were Kristin Chenoweth and Roger Bart as Sally and Snoopy, with each winning the Tony award in the respective category. Despite its Tony wins, the musical failed to gain an audience and closed after just 149 performances.
Original Broadway Cast
Dean Stolber as Charlie BrownLiz O'Neal as LucyStephen Fenning as LinusCarter Cole as SchroederLee Wilson as PattyGrant Cowan as SnoopyABOUT SNOOPY! THE MUSICAL
An official sequel to You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Snoopy! The Musical shares the story of a day in the life of everybody's favorite beagle, Snoopy. The musical features music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady, and a book by Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, and Michael Grace.
Despite You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown's Broadway failure in 1971, it had already become a worldwide sensation, and producer Arthur Whitelaw felt that it needed a follow-up. This time, however, he would both write and direct the piece. Snoopy! The Musical premiered on December 9, 1975 at the Little Fox Theatre in San Francisco, California and, despite mixed reviews, ran for 7 months.
The musical was then produced Off-Broadway at the Lamb's Theatre in 1982 starring David Garrison as Snoopy. The show performed 152 performances until it closed on May 1, 1983. The Off-Broadway production received similar reviews to the San Francisco production. Later, when Lorna Luft replaced Peppermint Patty, a new song was written for her, entitled "Hurry Up, Face". This song was used in later productions, including the West End later that year. The 1983 West End production was a critically acclaimed success and ran for 479 performances.
A revised version of Snoopy! The Musical opened Texas State University in 2017 with a new song co-written by Andrew Lippa and restored material that had been cut from previous versions of the show. This version, now called The World According To Snoopy, is available to license alongside the original.
Original Off-Broadway Cast
David Garrison as SnoopyTerry Kirwin as Charlie BrownVicki Lewis as Peppermint PattyKay Cole as LucyStephen Fenning as LinusDeborah Graham as Sally BrownCathy Cahn as Woodstock -
You're gonna have "the time of your life" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1996's Big The Musical on episode sixteen of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT BIG THE MUSICAL
Based on the 1988 film of the same name starring Tom Hanks, Big The Musical tells the story Josh Baskin, a 12-year-old boy who grows up overnight after being granted a wish by a Zoltar Speaks machine at a carnival. With the aid of his best friend, Billy, he must cope with his new adulthood while finding the machine so that he can wish himself back and more. The musical features a book by John Weidman, music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Composer David Shire was inspired to adapt Big for the stage after his wife, actress Didi Conn, watched the film on pay-per-view in her hotel room one night and told him how great a musical it would make. Over the next six years, he was able to amass a team that included frequent collaborator lyricist David Maltby, Jr., book writer John Weidman, director Mike Ockrent, and choreographer Susan Stroman, all of whom were not quite convinced that the musical would work, but continued to contribute to the creative process anyway until it eventually ended up on Broadway.
Big The Musical was one of the first major blockbuster films to be translated to the musical stage. While the practice has become much more common today, the Broadway community was far less welcoming of this at the time of its premiere. Despite the musical's strengths, it struggled to find an audience, and after failing to land a Tony nomination for Best Musical, it closed as a puzzling $12 million dollar loss of its $10 million dollar investment.
A heavily-revised national tour traveled the country two years later under the helm of show doctor Eric Dr. Shaeffer and was a big success and almost returned to Broadway. The show made its UK and Ireland in 2016 in Dublin starring "Strictly Come Dancing" winner and The Wanted vocalist Jay McGuiness as Josh. The production transferred to London's West End at the Dominion Theatre in 2019 with McGuiness reprising his role.
Original Broadway Cast
Daniel Jenkins as Josh BaskinCrista Moore as Susan LawrenceBrett Tabisel as BillyLizzy Mack as Cynthia BensonBarbara Walsh as Mrs. BaskinJohn Sloman as Mr. BaskinPatrick Levis as Young Josh BaskinJon Cypher as MacMillanGene Weygandt as Paul -
"So here we are again", "talkin' in tongues" and proving "one man is not enough" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss ALL THREE musicals based on the literary work of Truman Capote on episode fifteen of My Favorite Flop: 1954's House of Flowers, 1966's Breakfast at Tiffany's, AND 1971's The Grass Harp.
ABOUT HOUSE OF FLOWERS
Based on the original short story by Truman Capote, House of Flowers tells the story of two neighboring bordellos that battle for business in an idealized Haitian setting. The musical features music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, and a book by Capote.
In the early 1950s, Truman Capote became involved in the performing arts. He was approached by producer Saint Subber to adapt his recent story, "House of Flowers", as a musical play for Broadway. Much of the writing was done in the Italian fishing village of Portofino; but Capote and Jack Dunphy found time to travel to Switzerland and Paris before turning to America, where Capote met again with producer Saint Subber and continued his work in the musical.
After a Philadelphia try-out, the show opened on Broadway on December 30, 1954 at the Alvin Theatre and played for 165 performances. The director was Peter Brook. The cast included Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Juanita Hall, Ray Walston, Carmen de Lavallade, Alvin Ailey and Geoffrey Holder (who also provided a section of choreography). Although the show received generally poor reviews, the dance-rhythm infused score has been praised for its mix of blues and calypso.
There was an unsuccessful Off-Broadway revival in 1968 at Theater de Lys. In 2003, there was an Encores! production, starring Tonya Pinkins and Armelia McQueen as the battling bordello madams and Maurice Hines as Captain Jonas, the smuggler. The virginal Ottilie was played by Nikki M. James, and the mountain boy, Royal, was played by Brandon Victor Dixon. Roscoe Lee Browne played the voodoo priest, Houngan.
ABOUT BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S
Based both on the 1958 Truman Capote novella and 1961 film of the same name, Breakfast at Tiffany's tells the story of a free spirit named Holly Golightly. The musical features music and lyrics by Bob Merrill and a book by Abe Burrows, which was rewritten in previews by legendary playwright Edward Albee.
The original cast included Mary Tyler Moore, Richard Chamberlain, Sally Kellerman, Larry Kert and Priscilla Lopez. The production was designed by Oliver Smith, directed by Joseph Anthony and choreographed by Michael Kidd with assistance from Tony Mordente, and produced by David Merrick. Despite the impressive list of collaborators, the project never gelled. The show underwent constant and massive changes in its script and score during out-of-town tryouts. The original book by Abe Burrows was seen in Philadelphia, then scrapped completely, and Edward Albee, an unlikely choice, was hired to re-write before a Boston tryout. Burrows was the original director but left when Albee was brought in. He was replaced by Joseph Anthony. On a daily basis, the cast was given new material hours before curtain time, and the piece was overly long, running nearly four hours. Burrows's departure resulted in low morale among cast members, and Moore was convinced that Merrick planned to fire her soon after opening night.
Its original title, Holly Golightly, was changed when it started previews on December 12, 1966, on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre. Despite a healthy advance sale and much audience anticipation, it closed four nights later without having officially opened. Merrick placed an infamous ad in The New York Times, announcing that he shut down the production "rather than subject the drama critics and the public to an excruciatingly boring evening."
In 2013, the musical was revived for the first time, using Burrows's book, under the title Holly Golightly, at the 200-seat Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, as part of Ian Marshall Fisher's "Lost Musicals" staged concert series. One reviewer wrote: "the show never seems to come alive [and though] worth excavating out of interest in the form, it is not clear whether it is stageworthy."
ABOUT THE GRASS HARP
Based on the 1951 novella by Truman Capote, The Grass Harp tells the story of an orphaned boy and two elderly ladies who observe life from a tree. They eventually leave their temporary retreat to make amends with each other and other members of society. The musical features music by Claibe Richardson and book and lyrics by Kenward Elmslie.
The initial 1967 tryout of the musical was performed by Trinity Square Repertory Company at the Rhode Island School of Design auditorium, in Providence, Rhode Island. Directed and staged by Adrian Hall, the cast included Barbara Baxley as Dolly Heart Talbo, Carol Brice as the black maid Catherine Creek, Carol Bruce as Verena Talbo, Elaine Stritch as the evangelist Baby Love. After the Providence tryout, Larry Fineberg optioned the property for Broadway, casting Mama Cass as the evangelist Miss Baby Love. However, Fineberg was unable to raise capital funds, and the producing rights were optioned by Richard Barr.
In October 1971, the Michigan University Professional Theatre Program presented The Grass Harp with the university's music and drama departments supplying musicians and performers. Initially as an evaluation by the Broadway producers Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Michael Harvey, and Associate Producer Michael Kasden. Celeste Holm, a close friend of Claibe Richardson, appeared in the Michigan University Professional Program's production as "Miss Baby Love". She was replaced with Karen Morrow for the Broadway production.
The musical adaptation opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 2, 1971 and closed on November 6, 1971. The cast featured Barbara Cook as Dolly Talbo, Carol Brice as Catherine Creek, Karen Morrow as evangelist Miss Baby Love, Ruth Ford as Verena Talbo, Russ Thacker as Colin Talbo, Max Showalter as Dr. Morris Ritz, John Baragrey as Judge Cool, Kelley Boa, Trudy Bordoff, Colin Duffy, Eva Grant, and David Craig Moskin as Miss Baby Love's orphans, known as the "Heavenly Pride and Joy", Christine Stabile as Maude Riordan, and Harvey Vernon as Sheriff Amos Legrand.
The musical previewed and opened during a major New York City newspaper strike preventing advertising and reviews, with no advance theater party ticket sales guarantee. Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Michael Harvey, and Michael Kasden gave the company the option of maintaining three more weeks for the productions' performance schedule, or closing after only seven performances, using the show's banked funds to produce a Broadway cast album. The musical orchestration was recorded in Cologne, Germany, with the Cologne Symphonic Orchestra ensemble. Returning to the States, the original cast was recorded in New York City, with the album released a year after the musical's closing date.
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It's time to grab a "window seat" and be on your best "model behavior" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2017's Amélie and 2010's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown on episode fourteen of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT AMÉLIE
Based on the 2001 French film of the same name, Amélie tells the story of a shy waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better while struggling with her own isolation. The musical features music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen, and a book by Craig Lucas.
Following out-of-town tryouts at Berkeley Repertory and The Ahmanson, the musical finally opened to mixed reviews on Broadway on April 3, 2017. Despite praise for its cast and design elements, many critics found issue with the score, and the show struggled at the box office. When the show failed to receive any Tony nominations in an extremely competitive season, the show closed on May 21, 2017, after 27 previews and 56 regular performances.
A substantially transformed production, with new orchestrations, an expanded repertoire of songs, and new staging in the actor/muso style, opened on the West End in December 2019, at the Other Palace. Critics praised its improvements on the Broadway version, with The Guardian describing it as "a triumph of adaptation" "high on imagination", while The Daily Telegraph lauded the "wonderful, wistful evening" it made. It was nominated for three awards at the 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Original Score or New Orchestrations, and Best Actress in a Musical.
Original Broadway Cast
Phillipa Soo as AmélieAdam Chanler-Berat as NinoTony Sheldon as Dufayel/CollignonDavid Andino as Blind Beggar/Garden Gnome/AnchorpersonRandy Blair as Hipolito/Rock Star/Belgian TouristHeath Calvert as Lucien/Adrien Wells/Mysterious ManAlison Cimmet as Amandine/PhilomeneSavvy Crawford as Young AmélieManoel Felciano as Raphael/BretodeauHarriett D. Foy as SuzanneAlyse Alan Louis as Georgette/Sylvie/Collignon's MotherMaria-Christina Oliveras as GinaPaul Whitty as Joseph/Fluffy/Collignon's FatherABOUT WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
Based on the Pedro Almodóvar film of the same name, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown tells the tale of a group of women in late 20th-century Madrid whose relationships with men lead to a tumultuous 48 hours of love, confusion, and passion. The musical features music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane.
Following a series of workshops in 2009 featuring Salma Hayek, Jessica Biel, Matthew Morrison and Paulo Szot, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre on November 4, 2010. The production was a limited engagement that was scheduled to end on January 23, 2011, but due to low grosses and ticket sales, closed early on January 2, 2011. At the time of closing, the show had played 30 previews and 69 regular performances.
A West End production, also directed by Bartlett Sher and starring Tamsin Greig, Jérôme Pradon, Haydn Gwynne, Anna Skellern, and Willemijn Verkaik opened at the Playhouse Theatre on January 12, 2015 for a 20-week run, and subsequently extended its run, but it was ultimately announced that the production would close on May 23, 2015. Greig and Gwynne were nominated for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical respectively at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Original Broadway Cast
Sherie Rene Scott as PepaPatti LuPone as LuciaBrian Stokes Mitchell as IvanJulio Agustin as AmbiteDe'Adre Aziza as PaulinaLaura Benanti as CandelaDanny Burstein as Taxi DriverAlma Cuervo as Woman in Cinema/Ivan's Concierge/Magistrate 2Justin Guarini as CarlosMurphy Guyer as Hector/TV Husband/Magistrate/Chief InspectorNina Lafarga as Woman at Train/AnaNikka Graff Lanzarone as MarisaYanira Marin as EnsembleSean McCourt as Man in Cinema/Doctor/DetectiveVivian Nixon as EnsembleMary Beth Peil as Pepa's Concierge/TV and Radio AnnouncerLuis Salgado as MalikJennifer Sánchez as CristinaPhillip Spaeth as EnsembleMatthew Steffens as EnsembleCharlie Sutton as Man at Train/Telephone Repairman -
"It's time for a cheer-up song" because hosts Bobby and Kristina are finally back after an extended intermission to discuss 1978's A Broadway Musical on the act two opener of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT A BROADWAY MUSICAL
Based on the real-life experiences of the creative teams' journeys working on the original Broadway productions of The Wiz and the musical version of Golden Boy, A Broadway Musical tells the story of a sleazy white theatre producer's attempt to adapt an African-American writer's serious play as a commercial stage musical. The musical features a book by William F. Brown, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Lee Adams.
Following a dismal October–November tryout with Helen Gallagher and Julius LaRosa at the theatre in the Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, the producers fired most of the cast and creative personnel, including director/choreographer George Faison. Gower Champion was called in to rescue the Broadway-bound production with only a month to go, but he feared that the show's defects were too serious to remedy and insisted on receiving a "Production supervised by" credit only. After 14 previews, the Broadway production opened and closed the same night at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on December 21, 1978. It lost $1 million.
The creators hoped that the backstage story about the making of a musical would cash in on the success of A Chorus Line as well as the popularity of the black-themed musical, including Brown's own The Wiz, which was still running at the time. But Brown's much-criticized book failed to capture any of the socially-relevant subject matter in a serious way and instead became a clichéd spoof of show business lawyers, idealistic young playwrights, glitzy Las Vegas performers, blue-haired matinée ladies, and the black-themed musical itself. The Wiz proved to be Brown's only success.
Original Broadway Cast
Warren Berlinger as Eddie BellGwyda DonHowe as Stephanie BellIrving Allen Lee as James LincolnLarry Marshall as Richie TaylorAnne Francine as Shirley WolfeJackée Harry as Melinda BernardTiger Haynes as Sylvester LeeReggie Jackson as LouiePatti Karr as Maggie SimpsonChristina Kumi Kimball as Kumi KumiRobert Melvin as JuniorMartin Rabbett as JakeLarry Riley as Lonnie PaulAlbert Stephenson as Big JakeAlan Weeks as Stan HowardSydney Anderson as Richie Taylor's LawyerGwen Arment as Rehearsal PianistNate Barnett as PolicemanMichael Gallagher as Richie Taylor's LawyerJo Ann Ogawa as Richie's SecretaryLoretta Devine as Smoke and Fire Backup Singer -
It's time for "a seventeen gun salute" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1953's Carnival In Flanders on the act one finale of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT CARNIVAL IN FLANDERS
Based on the 1934 French comedy film La Kermesse Héroïque, Carnival In Flanders is set in 1616 in the small Flemish village of Flackenburg, where a Spanish duke and his entourage descend upon the community while the mayor plays dead, hoping that his ruse will force the visitors to depart. The musical features a book by Preston Sturges, music by Jimmy Van Heusen, and lyrics by Johnny Burke.
The road to Broadway for Carnival In Flanders was a troubled one. The film that the musical was based on was, and still is, considered one of the finest films every made and is ripe for musical adaptation. Initially, Harold Arlen was to have written the score, but the task ultimately fell to Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke instead, their only other theatrical credit being another Broadway flop. Famed singer and actor Bing Crosby believed in the pair, as they had already written many hits for him, and ended up financing much of the eventual production. The show went through a series of book writers, directors, and choreographers before it finally made it to The Great White Way.
The Broadway production was universally panned, with raves only for its female star, Dolores Gray, and lead dancer Matt Mattox. Despite everything, Gray was nominated and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for having only played 5 of the 6 performances the show ran on Broadway - the shortest-lived Tony-winning performance to date.
Original Broadway Cast
Dolores Gray as CorneliaJohn Raitt as The DukeRoy Robers as MayerJimmy Alex as 3rd OfficerJean Bradley as LisaLorna Del Maestro as Mourning WomanSandra Devlin as Mourning WomanJulie Marlowe as Mourning WomanUndine Forrest as KatherineLee Goodman as InnkeeperPaul Lipson as ButcherGeorge Martin as 2nd OfficerRay Mason as 1st OfficerMatt Mattox as CourierWilliam Noble as OrderlyPaul Reed as TailerKevin Scott as Jan BreughelPat Stanley as SiskaWesley Swails as 1st CitizenBobby Vail as BarberNorman Weise as 2nd CitizenLee Barry, Fred Bryan, Bill Conlon, Jean Cowles, Stokeley Gray, Dolores Kempner, Mara Landi, Mary Stanton, Dick Stewart, and Gloria Van Dorpe as SingerJohn Aristides, Harry Day, Pat Ferrier, Ronnie Field, Skeet Guenther, Patty Karkalits, Mary Alice Kubes, Greg O'Brien, Paul Olson, Richard Reed, Billie Shane, Michael Spaeth, Emy St. Just, and Elfrieda Zieger as Dancer -
"Nobody's on nobody's side" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1988's Chess on episode eleven of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT CHESS
Set against the Cold War tensions present in the 1980s, Chess tells the story of a politically-driven chess tournament between two grandmasters, one American and the other Soviet Russian, and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. The musical features a book by Tim Rice, music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by Ulvaeus and Rice. A revised book by playwright Richard Nelson was used on Broadway and in some later revisions.
Lyricist Tim Rice had long wanted to create a musical about the Cold War. His first notion was to write a straightforward piece about the Cuban Missile Crisis, however, by the late 1970s, he had developed the idea to tell the story through the prism of the long-standing chess rivalry between the United States and the USSR instead. His initial hope was to begin work on the project after the international success of Evita, with Andrew Lloyd Webber joining him once again, but Webber declined. At around same time, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA were looking to break away from the band and compose something more significant for the theatre. After meeting in 1981, a new collaboration was formed, and work would soon begin on what would eventually be known as Chess.
Just like Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita before it, it was decided that Chess would first be released as a concept album. Hitting record stores in 1984, the album was a huge hit, selling millions of copies worldwide and garnishing critical acclaim. At the time, it was the most successful theatrical cast album ever produced and it was no surprise that a stage production would soon follow. The road to the stage, however, would be a troubled one.
After much turmoil, the original London production opened to mixed-to-positive reviews in 1986 and ran for three years. A much-altered version, however, premiered on Broadway in 1988 and survived only for two months. Despite that, Chess is frequently revised for new productions around the world, many of which try to merge elements from both the British and American versions, and there is constant talk of an eventual first-class revival. A West End revival played in London in 2018 for just over a month.
Original Broadway Cast
David Carroll as Anatoly SergievskyPhillip Casnoff as Freddie TrumperJudy Kuhn as Florence VassyMarcia Mitzman as Svetlana SergievskyHarry Goz as MolokovDennis Parlato as WalterPaul Harman as The ArbiterNeal Ben-Ari as Gregor VasseyGina Gallagher as Young FlorenceKurt Johns as NickolaiEric Johnson as HaroldRichard Muenz as JoeJohn Aller, Suzanne Briar, Steve Clemente, Katherine Lynne Condit, Ann Crumb, David Cryer, R. F. Daley, Deborah Geneviere, Paul Laureano, Rosemary Loar, Judy McLane, Jessica Molaskey, Kip Niven, Francis Ruivivar, Alex Santoriello, and Wysandria Woolsey as Ensemble -
Get ready to get "in the ring" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2014's Rocky The Musical on episode ten of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT ROCKY THE MUSICAL
Based on the Academy Award-winning 1976 film, Rocky The Musical tells the story of Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, who is chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, when the undefeated fighter's scheduled opponent is injured. The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.
Sylvester Stallone began thinking about adapting Rocky as a musical in the early 2000s and commissioned the help of established Broadway librettist Thomas Meehan early onto help flesh out his ideas. Shortly after, songwriting team Ahrens and Flaherty joined the project. It was after Andy Karl entered the picture, playing the title role in workshops around 2011, that things really began taking off. European producing company Stage Entertainment picked up the show and decided to mount the musical's pre-Broadway engagement in Hamburg, Germany instead of a traditional US city.
The lavish German production was a smash hit, praised for its elaborate and technically complex set that resulted in an actual boxing ring being brought out over part of the orchestra in an attempt to put the audience right in the middle of the action for the big fight. While American audiences didn't quite know what to expect, anticipation for the Broadway transfer was high. The anticipation didn't last, however, as Broadway previous were both cancelled and stalls due to technical issues and negative word of mouth. Reviews were also negative and because the show was never able to find a strong enough audience, it closed after just 180 performances.
Rumors of an arena tour or Las Vegas sit-down production never materialized and the first post-Broadway engagement of the show in South Korea was cancelled the day before the first preview. Rocky The Musical came to Prague for a short 4-to-5 month run in 2017.
Original Broadway Cast
Andy Karl as Rocky BalboaMargo Seibert as AdrianTerence Archie as Apollo CreedDanny Mastrogiorgio as PaulieDakin Matthews as MickeyJennifer Mudge as GloriaAdrian Aguilar as A Boxer/A ReporterEric Anderson as Gazzo/Rocky's Cornerman/Rocky's CornermanMichelle Aravena as Angie/EnsembleJames Brown III as Sugar Jackson/A Boxer/A RefereeSam J. Cahn as Rocky Marciano/A Boxer/A RefereeKevin Del Aguila as Mike/A Watchman/Jack/A DoctorNed Eisenberg as Wysocki/Ad Announcer/Bob DunphySasha Hutchings as Apollo Girl/EnsembleDavid Andrew Macdonald as Miles Jergens/EnsembleVasthy Mompoint as Linda McKenna/Apollo GirlVince Oddo as A Boxer/EnsembleOkieriete Onaodowan as Dipper/Apollo's CornermanAdam Perry as Spider Rico/A Boxer/Boom OperatorKristin Piro as Shirley/Apollo GirlLuis Salgado as Kid Rizzo/A Boxer/Rocky's CornermanJohn Schiappa as Buddy/Jimmy MichaelsWallace Smith as Apollo's Manager/Fight Promoter/Disc JockeyJenny Lee Stern as Joanne/Ensemble - Vis mere
