My Favorite Flop
An Arts, Performing Arts and History podcast
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"Forever starts tonight" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2015's Honeymoon In Vegas on episode five of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT HONEYMOON IN VEGAS
Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, Honeymoon In Vegas tells the story of Jack Singer, a Brooklynite with an extreme fear of marriage, who finally gets up the nerve to ask his girlfriend Betsy to marry him. But when smooth-talking gambler Tommy — looking for a second chance at love — falls head over heels for Betsy, Jack must go to extreme heights to win back the love of his life. The musical features a book by Andrew Bergman (who wrote and directed the original film) with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.
Honeymoon In Vegas held a workshop and backers auditions in October 2011, with T.R. Knight, Mary Faber, and Tony Danza in the leading roles. An expected pre-Broadway tryout in Toronto was scheduled for the following year, but was ultimately cancelled, leaving the show's future in limbo. In September 2013, the show finally premiered to rave reviews at the Paper Mill Playhouse with Rob McClure and Brynn O'Malley replacing T.R. Knight and Mary Faber as Jack and Betsy.
The Broadway production opened on January 15, 2015 in the middle of a harsh New York winter. Despite getting nearly unanimous praise from the critics, including a love letter from The New York Times, the show struggled to find an audience and ultimately closed on April 5, after just 93 performances. A national tour, once again starring Tony Danza, was announced to take place in 2016, but never materialized. The London premiere was given by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown in a semi-staged concert version at the London Palladium on March 12, 2017.
Original Broadway Cast
Rob McClure as Jack Singer
Brynne O'Malley as Betsy Nolan
Nancy Opel as Bea Singer
David Josefsberg as Buddy Rocky/Roy Bacon
Leslie Donna Flesner and Erica Sweany as Buddy's Showgirls
Tony Danza as Tommy Korman
Matthew Saldivar as Johnny Sandwich
Matt Allen as Hotel Manager
Katie Webber as Cranberry Waitress/Sapphire de la Tour
George Merrick as Dougie Cataracts/Teihutu
Gaelen Gilliland as Joanne Klein
Raymond J. Lee as Chan Elvis Park
Zachary Prince as Alex
Leslie Donna Flesner as Rose
Tracee Beazer, Gaelen Gilliland, and George Merrick as Ticket Agents
Catharine Ricafort as Mahi
Matt Allen, Grady McLeod Bowman, Albert Guerzon, Raymond J. Lee, Cary Tedder, Katie Webber as Flying Elvises
George Merrick and Gaelen Gillibrand as Voiceover Announcements
Ensemble: Matt Allen, Tracee Beazer, Grady McLeod Bowman, Leslie Donna Flesner, Gaelen Gilliland, Albert Guerzon, Raymond J. Lee, George Merrick, Zachary Prince, Catharine Ricafort, Erica Sweany, Cary Tedder, and Katie Webber.
Get ready to "sing happy" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1965's Flora, The Red Menace on episode four of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT FLORA, THE RED MENACE
Based on Lester Atwell's 1962 depression-era novel "Love Is Just Around The Corner," Flora, The Red Menace tells the story of valedictorian and future fashion designer Flora Meszaros and her struggle to balance love, communism, and self-worth. The musical was produced by Harold Prince featured a book co-written by director George Abbott and playwright Robert Russell. Now legendary composing team John Kander and Fred Ebb provided music and lyrics to the show, in what was their first official collaboration to make it to Broadway.
The original 1965 production famously featured a 19-year-old Liza Minnelli making her Broadway debut in the title role, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was the youngest actor to ever win a Tony Award, period, until 11-year-old Frankie Michaels won for Mame the following year, however, she still remains the youngest winner of her particular Award. Despite closing after just 87 performances, Flora would not only become the launch pad for the careers of Kander, Ebb, and Minnelli, but also an important catalyst in Harold Prince's journey as producer AND director.
A 1987 off-Broadway revival reimagined the show as a presentation by WPA's Federal Theatre Project. Directed by Scott Ellis, choreographed by Susan Stroman, and featuring a new book by David Thompson, this new version premiered at The Vineyard Theatre to great acclaim and resounding success. Other notable productions have taken place at The Pasadena Playhouse, London's Orange Tree Theatre, Reprise!, and the Rose and Crown Concert Hall.
Original Broadway Cast
Liza Minnelli as Flora
Mary Louise Wilson as Comrade Ada
Cathryn Damon as Comrade Charlotte
Robert Kaye as Mr. Stanley
Bob Dishy as Harry
Art Carney as FDR's Voice
J. Vernon Oaks as Apple Seller
Clark Morgan as Pencil Seller
Daniel P. Hannafin as Police Man
Henry Le Clair as Broker
John Taliaferro as Fourth Man/Artist
Anne C. Russell as Woman/Lily
Anthony Falco as Fifth Man/Artist
Les Freed as Sixth Man/Artist
Robert Fitch as Seventh Man
Abbie Todd as School Principal
Diane McAfey as Artist
Marie Santell as Katie/Artist
Louis Guss as Comrade Galka
Clark Morgan as Comrade Jackson
Stephanie Hill as Elsa
Dortha Duckworth as The Lady
Joe E. Marks as Mr. Weiss
James Cresson as Bronco Smallwood
Danny Carroll as Joe
Gordon Dilworth as Mr. Rearson
Jamie Donnelly as Lulu
Elaine Cancilla as Maggie
Dancers: Elaine Cancilla, Ciya Challis, Barbara Doherty, Judith Doren, Ellen Graff, Mary Ann Niles, Phyllis Wallach, Harry Bell, Robert Fitch, Marcel Gamboa, Charles Kalan, James McArdle, and Neil J. Schwartz.
Singers: Jamie Donnelly, Barbara Christopher, Diane McAfee, Abbie Todd, Anthony Falco, Les Freed, Daniel P. Hannafin, Henry Le Clair, J. Vernon Oaks, and John Taliaferro.
You'll be "glad that you were born" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1982's Seven Brides For Seven Brothers on episode three of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
Based on the beloved 1954 MGM musical film of the same name, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers tells the story of backwoodsman Adam Pontipee and his six brothers and their quest to find wives in 1850s Oregon. The musical features a book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, music by Gene de Paul, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn. It is an adaption of the short story "The Sobbin' Women," by Stephen Vincent Benét, which is, in turn, based on the Ancient Roman legend of The Rape of the Sabine Women.
The show's 1978-79 premiere tour, featuring Howard Keel and Jane Powell reprising their roles from the original film, closed before reaching Broadway. A second touring production was launched in 1981, this time starring pop star Debby Boone, and traveled for eighteen months before finally opening on Broadway in July 1982, only to close three days and five performances later. A subsequent West End production had a six-week limited engagement run in 1985, with a further five and a half week run at The Prince of Wales Theatre.
Revised versions of the musical have met with success in U.S. regional theaters and in amateur productions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Original Broadway Cast
Debby Boone as Milly
David-James Carroll as Adam
Jeanne Bates as Mrs. Bixby
Jeff Calhoun as Daniel
Cheryl Crandall as Townsperson
Fred Curt as Mr. Bixby
D. Scot Davidge as Benjmain
Nancy Fox as Alice
Gino Gaudio as Mr. Perkins
Russell Giesenschlag as Jeb
James Horvath as Luke
Linda Hoxit as Sarah
Marylou Hume as Dorcas' Sister
Manette LaChance as Dorcas
Kevin McCready as Zeke
Gary Moss as Matt
Jan Mussetter as Liza
Sha Newman as Ruth
David Pavlosky as Townsboy
Craig Peralta as Gideon
Michael Ragan as Frank
Jeffrey Reynolds as Ephraim
Jack Ritschel as Preacher
Conley Schnaterbeck as Indian
Sam Singhaus as Townsperson
Marykatherine Somers as Mrs. Perkins
Don Steffy as Carl
Clark Sterling as Joel
Stephanie Stromer as Townsperson
Lara Teeter as Caleb
Laurel van der Linde as Martha
Swings: Sam Singhaus and Stephanie Stromer
"Talk amongst yourselves" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2003's Taboo on episode two of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT TABOO
Based on the lives of pop singer/songwriter Boy George and fashion designer/performance artist Leigh Bowery, Taboo tells the partly re-imagined story of a group of club “names” set in the location of what was the city’s most fashionable nightclub — the now-legendary Taboo. The musical features a book by Mark Davies Markham (extensively rewritten for Broadway by Charles Busch), lyrics by Boy George, and music by George, John Themis, Richie Stevens and Kevan Frost.
After premiering in London’s West End in a converted warehouse in 2002, comedian/talk show host Rosie O’Donnell decided to bring the show to Broadway the following year, investing over $10 million of her own money. Taboo‘s entire Broadway journey was subject to a lot of negative press, concerning both the show itself and Rosie’s personal life, and ultimately closed after only 100 performances. Despite its failure, Taboo continues to have an ardent and vocal cult following to this day.
An intimate revival was staged in London’s West End in 2012.
Original London Cast
Luke Evans as Billy
Dianne Pilkington as Kim
Euan Morton as Boy George
Matt Lucas as Leigh Bowery
Paul Baker as Philip Sallon
Gemma Craven as Josie James
Mark McGee as Marilyn
Michele Hooper as Janey
Drew Jaymson as Steve Strange
Mark White as Derek/Petal
Gail MacKinnon as Big Sue
Declan Bennett as Guru Dazzle
Kay Cole as Zee Asha
Joe Docherty as Jake
Lucy Harris as Foxy
Andy Morton as Policeman
Lucy Newton as Virus
Original Broadway Cast
Euan Morton as Boy George
Boy George (Credited as George O’Dowd) as Leigh Bowery
Liz McCartney as Big Sue
Raúl Esparza as Philip Sallon
Sarah Uriarte Barry as Nicola
Cary Shields as Marcus
Jeffrey Carlson as Marilyn
Jennifer Cody, Dioni Michelle Collins, Brooke Elliott, Felice B. Gajda, William Robert Gaynor, Curtis Holbrook, Jennifer K. Mrozik, Nathan Peck, Alexander Quiroga, Asa Somers, Denise Summerford, and Gregory Treco as Ensemble
Donnie R. Keshawarz as Standby for Philip Sallon and Leigh Bowery
Lori Holmes, Jody Reynard, and James Tabeek as Swings
"All roads lead to Hollywood" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1983's Marilyn: An American Fable on the season one premiere of My Favorite Flop.
ABOUT MARILYN: AN AMERICAN FABLE
Inspired by the life of celebrity Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn: An American Fable takes a highly fictionalized look at Hollywood’s legendary bombshell while also maintaining its supposed authenticity. (The show was apparently “authorized” and endorsed by Lee Strasberg’s wife, Anna) It was one of two musicals about the star to open that year alone, and one of at least five that have been created since her death. The show features a book by Patricia Michaels with music and lyrics by Jeanne Napoli, Doug Frank, Gary Portnoy, Beth Lawrence, Norman Thalheimer, James Komack, Wally Harper, and David Zippel.
Between sabotaged sets, a fired director, and a leading lady replaced just ten days before its first preview, this show made it to opening night with even more baggage than the real-life Marilyn carried with her during her actual life. The show shuttered after only 17 performances and became largely forgotten until it became a footnote in the pilot of NBC’s SMASH in 2012.
Original Broadway Cast
Alyson Reed as Norma Jean/Marilyn Monroe
Kristi Coombs as Young Norma Jean
Peggy Blue, Michael Kubula, and T.A. Stephens as Destiny
Scott Bakula as Joe DiMaggio
George Dvorsky as Jim Dougherty
Will Gerard as Arthur Miller
Melissa Bailey as Louella
Mary Testa as Hedda
Steve Shocket as Strasberg
Willy Falk as Tommy
Lise Lang as Sis
Debi Monahan as Pat
Ty Crowley as Acting Coach
Gary-Michael Davies as Director
Deborah Dotson as Hairdresser
Ed Forsyth as Camera Man
Mitchell Greenberg as Agent
James Haskins as Photographer
Alan North as Studio Head
Michael Rivera as Designer
Dooba Wilkins as Coach
Mark Ziebell as Serviceman
Jodi Benson as Factory Girl
Eileen Casey, Andrew Charles, Kevin Cort, Mark Esposito, Marcial Gonzalez, Christine Gradl, and Marguerite Lowell as Ensemble
“It all comes down to Christmas” as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2012’s A Christmas Story: The Musical on My Favorite Flop’s out-of-town, limited-edition Christmas Special.
ABOUT A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL
Based on the popular 1983 film, A Christmas Story: The Musical tells the story of Ralphie Parker, a child in 1940s Indiana, who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. After numerous regional productions, out-of-town tryouts, and national tours, the musical finally opened on Broadway for a limited engagement in 2012. The show features a book by Joseph Robinette with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
The Broadway production cost $9.5 million dollars to produce, making it impossible to pay back investors during the show's limited engagement — officially earning its status as a “flop.” Despite its "failure" on The Great White Way, A Christmas Story: The Musical has continued to tour across America, remain popular in the regional market, and was even adapted for television in 2017.
Original Broadway Cast
Johnny Rabe/Joe West as Ralphie Parker
Zac Ballard as Randy Parker
Dan Lauria as Jean Shepherd
Erin Dilly as Mother
John Bolton as The Old Man
Caroline O’Connor as Miss Shields
J.D. Rodriguez as Schwartz
Jeremy Shinder as Flick
Jack Mastrianni as Scut Farkus
John Francis Babbo as Grover Dill
Analise Scarpaci as Esther Jane
Beatrice Tulchin as Mary Beth
Eddie Korbich as Santa
Kirsten Wyatt as Mrs. Schwartz
Andrew Cristi as Restaurant Waiter
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Created by
Bobby Traversa and Kristina Miller-Weston
Podcast Status
Active
Started
Dec 29th, 2020
Latest Episode
Mar 2nd, 2021
Release Period
2 per month
Episodes
6
Avg. Episode Length
About 1 hour
Explicit
No
Order
Episodic
Language
English
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