Buzz
The importance of Broadway critiques cannot be overstated. Following a show's premiere, the entire team eagerly awaits the moment when various publications start sharing their opinions.
Typically, prospective theatergoers rely on reviews to determine which performances to attend and which to avoid. However, there are instances where productions adored by audiences face harsh criticism from so-called experts. Below are some renowned musicals that surprisingly fell short with critics.
10. Oklahoma!
Although the initial run of this revolutionary musical received overwhelmingly positive feedback, the 2019 Broadway revival directed by Daniel Fish sparked intense debate among reviewers.
The original script remains untouched, but through innovative choices like altered costumes, staging, and gender-swapped roles, Fish reimagined a timeless production into something entirely new—though many argue it wasn't an improvement.
While some critics described it as 'bold,' 'gritty,' and 'intense,' others were far less complimentary. WTTW News criticized the production for 'destroying a musical theater masterpiece,' calling it 'a disgraceful parody of a farce.' There were even accounts of audience members walking out mid-performance and reports of audible discomfort.
Definitely not the start of a perfect day!
9. Moulin Rouge!
Inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, Moulin Rouge! is a visual feast. It delivers everything you’d expect from a Broadway hit: stunning outfits, synchronized dance numbers, aerial performers, dynamic stage designs, a cast of striking individuals, and an audience eager for more.
However, critics argue that the production lacks one crucial element: depth. As a 'jukebox' musical, it relies entirely on pre-existing songs, offering no original compositions. The focus on extravagant sets and costumes overshadows the narrative, leaving the storyline underdeveloped.
Many reviewers noted the shallow portrayal of the romance between writer Christian and courtesan Satine, leaving audiences emotionally unfulfilled. Despite this, the producers have strategically cast high-profile stars like Titus Burgess, Riverdale’s Casey Cott, JoJo Levesque, and Boy George, ensuring continued audience interest and maintaining the show’s dazzling presence on Broadway.
8. Be More Chill
The musical Be More Chill, adapted from the 2004 novel, centers on socially awkward teenager Jeremy, who ingests a supercomputer chip designed to enhance his popularity. While the 2015 premiere featured an intriguing score and humorous characters, these elements weren’t enough to sustain the production when it transitioned to New York City.
During its 2018 Off-Broadway run, songs from Be More Chill gained viral popularity, drawing thousands of teenagers to New York when the show moved to Broadway in 2020. However, the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and lackluster ticket sales among adults—Broadway’s primary audience—led to its financial downfall.
The critical reception didn’t improve its fortunes. While a few reviewers appreciated the music’s experimental flair, including the use of unconventional instruments like the theremin, most dismissed the show as overly juvenile, clumsily written, and monotonous. Ben Brantley of the New York Times captured it perfectly, describing Be More Chill as akin to 'a high-frequency dog whistle audible only to those under 25.'
Though the show may not be as renowned as others on this list, a quick browse through TikTok will likely reveal snippets of its music. The younger fanbase remains highly engaged and active.
7. Suessical The Musical
Despite being a favorite in elementary schools today, Suessical struggled from the start when it debuted on Broadway in 2000.
While Dr. Suess’s books, the inspiration for the musical, are celebrated for their warmth and moral lessons, Suessical fell short. Instead of focusing on a single story, it mashed multiple tales into one convoluted narrative, resulting in a chaotic mess, shallow themes, and characters that felt more like exaggerated stereotypes than genuine individuals.
The primary criticism of Suessical was its inability to decide whether it catered to children or adults. This indecision led to its Broadway downfall, not even salvaged by Rosie O’Donnell’s brief role as the Cat in the Hat. However, the musical has since found a niche in community and school theaters, where young performers and proud parents are less focused on sophisticated lyrics and more on the joy of seeing their kids take the stage.
6. The Rocky Horror Show
Distinct from the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 film adaptation of the 1973 musical The Rocky Horror Show debuted on Broadway to scathing reviews. The New York Times labeled it 'campy trash,' while Newsweek dismissed it as 'tasteless, plotless, and pointless.'
Ironically, these criticisms might hold some truth, but they don’t detract from the show’s sheer entertainment value. Its absurd, sexually charged storyline serves as a backdrop for actors to cavort in lingerie and deliver raunchy humor—much to the delight of audiences.
While many are familiar with the interactive midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, fewer realize that the stage version also encourages audience participation, complete with shouted jokes and flying props.
Rocky Horror is fascinating because, by critical standards, it’s a poorly crafted musical. But who needs expert opinions when you can spend two and a half hours gleefully tossing toast and yelling 'A**hole!' at Brad Majors?
5. Gigi
Inspired by the 1958 musical film of the same name, Gigi appeared destined for success. Featuring Broadway sensation Corey Cott and High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, the revival of Gigi premiered in 2015.
Critics primarily took issue with the show’s sanitized approach. Despite its premise centering on a young courtesan, the New York Times noted it had been 'stripped of anything remotely risqué or controversial,' with Gigi’s profession 'hinted at so subtly that parents accompanying tweens won’t need to explain much after the final bow.'
While this may have compromised the show’s artistic authenticity, it boosted ticket sales. Hudgens’s youthful fanbase and the production’s traditional Broadway charm made it a hit among families and tourists, ensuring its success as a Tony-nominated spectacle.
4. Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice mirrors the storyline of the 1988 Tim Burton film: the undead troublemaker Beetlejuice encounters a recently deceased couple, leading to chaotic antics. The quirky narrative is well-suited for a musical adaptation, and the show has gained massive traction on social media, especially TikTok, with tracks like 'Dead Mom' sparking viral lip-syncing challenges.
While younger audiences may love the production, professional critics have been less enthusiastic. The New York Times argued that Beetlejuice panders to its younger fans with an overabundance of shallow humor and over-the-top antics, resulting in what they described as 'sensory overload.'
Even favorable reviews acknowledged the lack of depth behind the show’s forgettable songs and repetitive jokes. Terms like 'exhausting,' 'crass,' and 'poorly thought-out' have been used to describe the production.
Fortunately, most teenagers don’t turn to the NYT for Broadway recommendations. A memorable tune and the lead actor’s standout performance are enough to draw crowds these days.
3. Wicked
With Jon Chu’s high-budget adaptation premiering later this year, featuring pop icon Ariana Grande, it’s hard to imagine a time when Wicked wasn’t a Broadway favorite.
Wicked debuted in San Francisco in 2003 to mixed reviews. Despite high expectations, thanks to Stephen Schwartz’s music and lyrics (known for Pippin and Godspell), critics found the score uninspired and the lyrics clichéd, even as they praised Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth’s performances.
Karen D’Souza of the San Jose Mercury News remarked that 'style triumphs over substance in this Emerald City,' highlighting the stunning sets and costumes but noting the lack of depth in this reimagining of The Wizard of Oz.
So, how did Wicked rise to become a Broadway icon? After incorporating feedback from critics, Schwartz and the creative team refined the show before its New York debut. While reviews improved, it wasn’t enough to secure the 'Best Musical' Tony Award, losing to Avenue Q, a production featuring some delightfully troubled puppets.
2. Merrily We Roll Along
This season’s must-see Broadway show is Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, with tickets selling for hundreds of dollars. Featuring Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe and Frozen’s Jonathan Groff, the production explores the lives of a group of friends, told in reverse chronological order.
This revival revisits one of Broadway’s most notorious failures. Before its official opening, reports surfaced of audience members leaving mid-performance, and lead actor James Weissenbach exited the production. Opening night fared no better, with critics panning the show as both dull and perplexing. To address confusion over character identification, producer Hal Price outfitted the cast in sweatshirts bearing their names.
After a mere 16 performances, the original run of Merrily closed. Over time, Stephen Sondheim has been celebrated as a theatrical genius, and the 2023 revival has brought renewed appreciation for the once-maligned show, thanks to a deeper understanding of its unconventional structure and Sondheim’s intricate lyrics.
1. Les Misérables
Condensing a 1,200-page novel into a two-and-a-half-hour musical is no small feat, and the initial reviews of Les Misérables highlighted this challenge. When it premiered in 1985, one critic dismissed it as 'artificial and uninspired entertainment,' while another likened it to 'trying to squeeze the entire English Channel into a tiny teapot.'
Although the music and performances were praised, both audiences and critics struggled with the significant omissions from Victor Hugo’s original work. Francis King of the Sunday Telegraph famously labeled the show as 'a garish Victorian melodrama staged with excessive extravagance,' lamenting the absence of the novel’s rich context.
Despite the harsh critiques and its lengthy runtime, Les Misérables ultimately triumphed, securing its place as the world’s second longest-running musical and earning the Tony Award for Best Musical.
