Recent Broadway Flops

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 workshops and premiere performances in Tampa, Florida and Houston, Texas, this contemporary version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass closed on Broadway after only a month. The show is set in New York City, and it focuses on the characters of Alice Cornwinkle and her 10 year-old daughter, Chloe.

Bonnie and Clyde-12/1/2011-12/30/2011 (36 Performances)
Written by Frank Wildhorn, Don Black, and Ivan Menchell, this musical about the infamous Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow combined rockabilly, gospel, and blues music as part of the score. Unfortunately, this show failed to impress critics, and it closed after four weeks.

Side Show (Revival)-11/17/2014-01/04/2015 (56 Performances)
Although this musical faired better in 1997 with 91 performances, the revival had fewer viewings. Based on the lives of two conjoined twins who became famous stage performers in the 1930s, this offering by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger did not catch on with audiences, and it closed after only seven weeks.

All information came from the following websites:

www.deadline.com
www.ibdb.com
www.nytimes.com
www.playbill.com
www.theguardian.com

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Bradley Nies, Playwright

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