Finally, we get to the show no one asked for but me! Sweet Smell of Success is a musical created by Marvin Hamlisch (music), Craig Carnelia (lyrics), and John Guare (book). The show tells the story of a powerful newspaper columnist named J. J. Hunsecker (based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems inappropriate. The musical opened on March 14, 2002 at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway, it closed on June 15, 2002, after 109 performances and 18 previews. My guest is Kenny Reilly.

Broken Broadway

Sweet Smell of Success

Sweet Thursday! It's Pipe Dream! Pipe Dream Musical1955-PipeDream-OriginalPoster.jpg Original Broadway poster (1955) Music Richard Rodgers Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II Book Oscar Hammerstein II Basis Sweet Thursday, a novel by John Steinbeck Productions 1955 Broadway Pipe Dream is the seventh musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II; it premiered on Broadway on November 30, 1955. The work is based on John Steinbeck's short novel Sweet Thursday, a sorta sequel to his other book Cannery Row. Pipe Dream ran for 245 performances and was considered a huge financial disaster for Rodgers and Hammerstein. I'm joined by one of my favorite people, Matt Storrs! (@MTStorrs)

Pipe Dream

Come look at these freaks! Side Show is a musical by Bill Russell (book and lyrics) and Henry Krieger (music) based on the lives of Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins who became famous stage performers in the 1930s. The musical opened on Broadway on October 16, 1997. Despite receiving some positive reviews, the show closed on January 3, 1998 after 91 performances. My guest is my wife, Joshua McDougle.

Side Show

OH, THE PODS YOU CAN CAST! Seussical is a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. It is based on the children's stories of Dr. Seuss, with most of its plot being based on Horton Hears a Who! while incorporating many other stories. It closed on May 20, 2001, after 198 performances and 34 previews. My guest is Kenny Reilly.

Seussical!

We could make more money with a flop than with a hit! All American All American CD Cover.png Original Broadway Cast Recording Music Charles Strouse Lyrics Lee Adams Book Mel Brooks Basis Robert Lewis Taylor's novel Professor Fodorski Productions 1962 Broadway All American is a musical with a book by Mel Brooks, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse, based on the Robert Lewis Taylor 1950 novel Professor Fodorski. It drew mostly unfavorable reviews and ran for 80 performances, though the song "Once Upon a Time" became popular. My guest is my co-host of We Wrote a Musical, Kevin Froleiks

All American

We're doing it! One of the reasons why I started this podcast! To just talk about Carrie! Carrie: The Musical is a musical with a book by Lawrence D. Cohen, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and music by Michael Gore. Adapted from Stephen King's novel Carrie, it focuses on an awkward teenage girl with telekinetic powers whose lonely life is dominated by an oppressive religious fanatic mother it closed on May 15 after only 16 previews and 5 performances. My guest is one of my best friends and comedian Hattie Hayes! Follow for at @QueenHattieJean!

Carrie!

Today we're talking about Merrily We Roll Along! Merrily We Roll Along is a musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The musical ran on Broadway for 52 previews and 16 performances in 1981. My Guest again is Kenny.

Merrily We Roll Along

*NOTE: The music is from a bootleg since there is no available Broadway cast album.* One of my favorite flops, American Psycho! American Psycho is a musical with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. It is based on the controversial 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, which also inspired a 2000 film of the same name, which starred Christian Bale. Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, American Psycho is about the daily life of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy young investment banker who is also a serial killer. It closed after 27 previews and 54 regular performances. Kenny Reilly is my guest and brother. We talk about how I love the show and Kenny does not.

American Psycho

For our third episode, we discuss the silent movie musical: Mack & Mabel! Mack and Mabel is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The plot involves the tumultuous romantic relationship between Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand (transformed from an artist's model to a waitress from Flatbush, Brooklyn for the musical), who became one of his biggest stars. It closed after 66 performances and 6 previews. My guest Leland Masek and I talk about how a sad, sad ending it a total bummer of a way to end a fun musical.

Mack & Mabel

Today we cover Sondheim's first flop, Anyone Can Whistle! Anyone Can Whistle is a musical with a book by Arthur Laurents and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The story concerns a corrupt mayoress, an idealistic nurse, a man who may be a doctor, and various officials, patients and townspeople, all fighting to save a bankrupt town. It closed after 9 performances and 12 previews. I'm joined by Josh McDougle and we talk about even Sondheim can fail.

Anyone Can Whistle

Our first flop is Paul Simon's The Capeman! The Capeman is a musical play written by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott based on the life of convicted murderer Salvador Agrón. The play opened at the Marquis Theatre in 1998 to poor reviews and had an initial run of 68 performances. This was also my first Broadway show, it also made me feel really uncomfortable. Found out why! Follow me @NotPatReilly

The Capeman

Not every musical is a Hamilton or RENT, sometimes Musicals Flop! Sometimes they flop hard! Let's fix some of Broadway's most broken musicals!

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Broken Broadway

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