Member-only story

Musical Misfires: Three Decades of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

Harold Blair

·16.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Thomas S Hischak

4 min read · 1 week before

441 View Claps

44 Respond

Save

Listen

Broadway is a notoriously tough business. For every hit musical, there are dozens that flop. In fact, the average Broadway musical loses money. But some flops are more spectacular than others. These are the musicals that close after just a few performances, or that are so bad that they become the punchline of jokes.

Musical Misfires: Three Decades of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

by Thomas S. Hischak

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8288 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	527 pages

In this article, we'll take a look back at some of the most notorious Broadway musical flops of the past three decades. These are the musicals that made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The musicals that left audiences scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong.

## **Carrie** (1988)

Based on the Stephen King novel and film, Carrie was one of the most anticipated Broadway musicals of all time. But the show was a disaster from the start. The special effects were malfunctioning, the cast was miscast, and the music was forgettable. Carrie closed after just 28 performances.

A Scene From The Broadway Musical Carrie Musical Misfires: Three Decades Of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

## **The Adventures of Tom Sawyer** (2001)

This musical adaptation of the classic novel by Mark Twain was a critical and commercial failure. The show was criticized for its bland music, uninspired lyrics, and unoriginal story. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer closed after just 32 performances.

A Scene From The Broadway Musical The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer Musical Misfires: Three Decades Of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

## **Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark** (2011)

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was one of the most expensive Broadway musicals ever produced. But the show was plagued by problems from the start. The special effects were unreliable, the cast was injured multiple times, and the plot was convoluted. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark closed after just 89 performances.

A Scene From The Broadway Musical Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark Musical Misfires: Three Decades Of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

## **Rocky** (2014)

Based on the classic film, Rocky was another highly anticipated Broadway musical. But the show failed to live up to expectations. The music was repetitive, the lyrics were cringeworthy, and the story was predictable. Rocky closed after just 188 performances.

A Scene From The Broadway Musical Rocky Musical Misfires: Three Decades Of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

## **King Kong** (2018)

King Kong was one of the most ambitious Broadway musicals in history. The show featured a giant animatronic gorilla, a cast of hundreds, and a budget of over $100 million. But King Kong was a critical and commercial disaster. The show was panned for its cheesy plot, uninspired music, and overpriced tickets. King Kong closed after just 33 performances.

A Scene From The Broadway Musical King Kong Musical Misfires: Three Decades Of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

## ****

These are just a few of the many Broadway musical flops that have been produced over the past three decades. These shows are a reminder that even the most promising musicals can fail. But they also show that even the biggest failures can have a lasting impact on the theater world.

Musical Misfires: Three Decades of Broadway Musical Heartbreak

by Thomas S. Hischak

4.5 out of 5