Bradley Nies, Playwright

If you read my blog, you know I like to write about the macabre.  While talking to a fellow playwright last week, I said it's important not to be ashamed to embrace this particular genre.  After doing a little research, I found other artists who, unashamedly, disturbed their audiences: "The Playboy of the Western World" -When John Synge's play opened at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland in 1907, audience members stormed the stage screaming, "Kill the author!" "Dracula" -This version of Bram Stoker's novel opened in London's Mason Opera House in 1927, and it employed a nurse to be on hand with smelling salts for any patrons who felt faint. "Saved" -At the end of Edward Bond's play, which premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1965, audience members stood and yelled "Revolting" and "Dreadful" before marching out of the theatre. "The Romans in Britain" -Howard Brenton's c

Those who read my blog know my obsession with those shows on Broadway that don't last long.  With that in mind, here are five fairly recent shows that had short runs on the Great White Way: Lestat-04/26/2006-05/28/2006 (39 Performances) Written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and Linda Woolverton, this musical was inspired by The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice.  Reviews of the show were mostly negative, with one critic saying, " Lestat's contribution to art and equality is demonstrating that a gay vampire with a two-octave range can be just as dull as a straight one." Enron-04/27/2010-05/09/2010 (16 Performances) This straight play about the financial scandal and bankruptcy of a Houston-based American energy corporation last on Broadway for just over a month.  Hostile reviews, as well as the show's failure to earn any Tony nominations, were attributed to the play's closure. Wonderland-04/17/2011-05/15/2011 (33 Performances) After various wo