Flop of the Heap: Recent Episodes
Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow
Get excited for what's being referred to by 'industry professionals' as "Musical Science Theatre 3000," "Just the schadenfreude I needed!" and "Something to listen to instead of the president's whining," when John and Marla, both 'industry professionals,' bring to you, Flop of the Heap, the podcast where failure is always an option! Like B-Movies? Try B-Musicals! Available now on your internet enabled device.
Music by Milton Shafer
Lyrics by Ronny Graham
Book by A.J. Russell
Directed by Stanley Prager
Choreographed by Carol Haney
Starring Cesare Siepi, Michele Lee, George S. Irving, Maria Karnilova, David Opatoshu & Lainie Kazan
Opened on Broadway May 19, 1962
Closed after 76 performances!
Music by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Book & Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed by Trevor Nunn (Replacing Michael Bennett)
Starring David Carroll, Philip Casnoff, Judy Kuhn, Harry Goz & Marcia Mitzman
Opened on Broadway April 28, 1988
Closed after 68 performances!
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Book by Joseph Stein & Will Glickman
Directed by George Schaefer
Starring Steve Forrest, Jack Warden, Mindy Carson, Barbara McNair & Lonnie Sattin.
Opened on Broadway January 23, 1958
Closed after 60 performances!
Marla & John chat about this & that and read some listener mail.
June is Bustin' Out All Over!
Music by Max Showalter
Lyrics by Peter Walker
Book by Michael Stewart
Featuring music by Harrigan & Hart
Directed by Joe Layton
Starring Mark Hamill, Harry Groener, Chrisitne Ebersole, Armelia McQueen & Tudi Roche
Opened on Broadway January 31, 1985
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams
Book by David Newman & Robert Benton
Directed & Produced by Harold Prince
Starring Jack Cassidy, Linda Lavin, Bob Holiday, Patricia Marand & Michael O'Sullivan
Opened on Broadway March 29, 1966
Music by George Kleinsinger
Lyrics by Joe Darion
Book by Joe Darion & Mel Brooks
Directed by Nobody
Starring Eartha Kitt & Eddie Bracken
Opened on Broadway April 13, 1957
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics by Howard Dietz
Book by Kay Kanin & Michael Kanin
Directed by Gerald Freedman & Herbert Ross
Starring Walter Chiari, Barbara Cook, Jules Munshin, Loring Smith, Jack Adams & Elizabeth Allen
Opened on Broadway November 18, 1961
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Thomas Meehan & Sylvester Stallone
Directed by Alex Timbers
Choreography by Steven Hoggett & Kelly Devine
Starring Andy Karl, Margo Seibert, Terence Archie, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Dakin Matthews & Jennifer Mudge
Opened on Broadway March 13, 2014
Music by Lee Holdridge
Lyrics by John Forster
Book by Jeff Tamborino
Directed by Michael Maurer
Starring Dean Jones, Thomas Batten, Susan Bigelow, Danny Gerard & Gordon Stanley
Opened on Broadway October 22, 1986
with Special Guest Host Connor McAndrews
Music by Mitch Leigh
Lyrics by Phyllis Robinson & William Alfred
Book by William Alfred & Albert Marre
Directed by Albert Marre
Starring Joan Diener, Steve Arlen, Robert Weede, Tommy Rall & Helen Gallagher.
Opened on Broadway April 8, 1970
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics by Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr. & John Dempsey
Book by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg & Richard Maltby, Jr.
Directed by Frank Galati
Starring Stephanie J. Block, Hadley Fraser, Linda Balgord, Marcus Chait, Jeff McCarthy & William Youmans
Opened on Broadway April 5, 2007.
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Joseph Stein
Revisions by David Thompson
Directed by Gene Saks
Starring Teresa Stratas, Larry Kert, Lonny Price, Judy Kuhn, Terrence Mann & Dick Latessa
Opened on Broadway August 21, 1986.
Marla & John read some listener mail and go off on several random tangents in this very special bonus episode!!!!
John & Marla break down the unmitigated disaster that was the Peggy Lee musical.
Music by Paul Horner
Lyrics by Peggy Lee
Book by Peggy Lee (originally by William Luce)
Also featuring songs by Johnny Mercer, Joe McCoy, Richard Rodgers and Lieber & Stoller.
Directed by Robert Drivas, replaced by Cy Coleman
Starring Peggy Lee
Opened on Broadway December 14, 1983.
Special Guest Host Connor McAndrews joins John to discuss this titanic Broadway flop!
Music by Nöel Coward
Lyrics by Nöel Coward
Book by Nöel Coward
Direction by Nöel Coward
Poster Design by Nöel Coward
Casting by Nöel Coward
Re-casting by Nöel Coward
Starring Elaine Stritch (and some other people).
Opened on Broadway October 3, 1961
John & Marla discuss the short-lived sequel to 'Bye Bye Birdie' in this tribute episode to the late Chita Rivera.
Music by Charles Strouse.
Lyrics by Lee Adams
Book by Michael Stewart
Directed, Choreographed (and Conceived!) by Joe Layton
Starring Chita Rivera, Donald O'Connor, Maria Karnilova, Marcel Forestieri, Robin Morse, Evan Seplow, Jeb Brown & Lynda Ferguson
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by George Abbott & Robert Russell
Opened on Broadway May 11, 1965
Music by Cyril Orandel
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Book by Wolf Mankowitz
Opened on Broadway October 4, 1965
John & Marla read listener mail, ask each other flop trivia and generally bitch about the Sweeney Todd revival stunt casting.
Guest host Connor McAndrews joins Marla AND John to discuss Andrew Lloyd Webber's spooky Victorian flop: THE WOMAN IN WHITE.
Spooky Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Spooky Lyrics by David Zippel
Spooky Book by Charlotte Jones
Spookily Directed by Trevor Nunn
Starring Maria Friedman, Michael Ball, Jill Paice, Adam Brazier & Ron Bohmer.
Opened on Broadway November 17, 2005.
Guest host Connor McAndrews joins John to dissect this '80s flop: GRIND.
Music by Larry Grossman
Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh
Book by Fay Kanin
Directed by Harold Prince
Starring Ben Vereen, Leilani Jones, Stubby Kaye & Timothy Nolen.
Opened on Broadway April 16, 1985
Connor & John continue their exploration of I Had A Ball.
Lots of song clips and more Buddy Hackett impressions.
Enchanted Blissville in Old New Kissville.
Music & Lyrics by Jack Lawrence & Stan Freeman
Book by Jerome Chodorov
Starring Buddy Hackett
Opened on Broadway December 15, 1964
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by David Zippel
Book by Emerald Fennell & Alexis Scheer
Opened on Broadway March 23, 2023
Part 2 of Dear World with guest host Connor McAndrews!
Get ready forrrr..... Criticalllll..... Receptionnnnn!!!
Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Book by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee
Opened on Broadway February 6, 1969
Guest Host: Connor McAndrews
Music by Jerome Kern
Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Opened on Broadway November 17, 1939
Music & Lyrics by Barry Keating
Book by Stuart Ross & Barry Keating
Opened on Broadway April 27, 1989
Breakfast at Tiffany's- 1966 - Majestic Theatre
Music/Lyrics- Bob Merrill
Book- Edward Albee
Lysistrata Jones- Walter Kerr- 2011
Music and Lyrics- Lewis Flinn
Book- Douglas Carter Beane
Join John, Marla, and Special Guest, Connor McAndrews on our first Sondheim flop adventure. Find Connor on Insta @connormcandrews and @southphillybarefootcontessa
Anyone Can Whistle- 1964- The Majestic
Music and Lyrics- Stephen Sondheim
Book- Arthur Laurents
Join John, Marla, and Special Guest, Connor McAndrews on our first Sondheim flop adventure. Find Connor on Insta @connormcandrews and @southphillybarefootcontessa
Anyone Can Whistle- 1964- The Majestic
Music and Lyrics- Stephen Sondheim
Book- Arthur Laurents
Home Sweet Homer- 1976- The Palace Theatre
This one's a real Odyssey.
Music- Mitch Leigh
Lyrics- Charles Burr and Foreman Brown
Book- Roland Kibbee and Albert Marre
Join John and special guest Marc Tumminelli, as they discuss a pageant of a disaster. If Marla is your least favorite co-host of Flop of the Heap, this is the episode for you!
Smile- Lunt- Fontanne- 1986
Book- Howard Ashman
Music- Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics- Howard Ashman
The Halloween Special No One Asked For.
Dance of the Vampires- The Minskoff Theatre- 2002
Book- David Ives and Michael Kunze
Lyrics- Jim Steinman and Don Black
How could a musical with so many great actors fail so miserably?
Triumph of Love- The Royal Theatre- 1998
Book- James Magruder
Composer- Jeffrey Stock
Lyrics- Susan Birkenhead
We're serving up a legendary flop this week! What does a flamboyant Australian pop singer have in common with a ruthless New York mobster? Aside from having a pair of legs, probably not much.
Legs Diamond- 1988- The Mark Hellinger Theatre
Music and Lyrics- Peter Allen
Book- Harvey Fierstein
Join us as we explore Raggedy Ann, not the beloved children's' doll, but the brutally panned musical featuring said beloved children's' doll... and lots of death. How did a show written by the man who brought us "C is for Cookie" get so very dark? Let's find out!
Raggedy Ann- 1986- Nederlander Theatre
Music and Lyrics- Joe Raposo
Book- William Gibson
Strap on your rollerskates, as we follow Chita Rivera, Liza Minelli, and Jason Alexander on this journey that looks much more like a brutal roller derby match, than a relaxing lap around the rink.
The Rink- The Martin Beck Theatre- 1984
Music- John Kander
Lyrics- Fred Ebb
Book- Terrence McNally
John and Marla go West to search for Broadway Oil, and find only tar. Find out what made Lucille Ball’s only musical performance so “lame.” Shenanigans ensue.
Wildcat- 1960 - Alvin Theatre
Music- Cy Coleman
Lyrics- Carolyn Leigh
Book- N. Richard Nash
A very special pride episode! Heart on our sleeves, eye shadow in our creases, we take a trip to 1980s London, to meet Boy George and the Blitz Kids.
Taboo- 2003- Plymouth Theatre
Music and Lyrics- Boy George
Book- Mark Davies Markham and Charles Busch
Shall we friend? Shall we, friend? Shall we friend. Shall, we friend. Shall we friend! Shall, we, friend! Fan of Sci-fi? You won't be after this episode.
Via Galactica- Uris Theatre- 1972
Music- Galt MacDermot
Lyrics- Christopher Gore
Book- Christopher Gore and Judith Ross
Tenderloin is on the menu, and it is a bit tough. If you are, both, pious and kick line-adverse, this is the show for you.
Tenderloin- 1960- The Richard Rodgers Theatre
Music- Jerry Brock
Lyrics- Sheldon Harnick
Book- George Abbott and Jerome Weidman
It's the end of the world as we know it!... for the cast and crew of this 1980s flop. Nuclear war has never been less interesting, and singing about it should help, but it doesn't. Take shelter, and give this one a listen.
Dance A Little Closer- 1983- Minskoff Theatre
Music- Charles Strouse
Book and Lyrics- Alan Jay Lerner
There's been a murder!... committed by all your favorite theatre critics. Can Paul Simon adeptly write a musical about a gang murder? Would Art have done better? Find out in this "Salsa Sunset Boulevard" of a musical.
The Capeman- The Maquis- 1998
Music- Paul Simon
Lyrics and Book- Paul Simon and Derek Walcott
Yee-Haw! Flop of the Heap goes Country in this newest episode, as we explore a beer-soaked musical, adapted from a beer-drenched movie, tailored out of a beer-logged Esquire article, that should have stuck to print.
Urban Cowboy- 2003- The Broadhurst Theatre
Book- Aaron Latham and Phillip Oesterman
Music and Lyrics- Jason Robert Brown and Jeff Blumenkrantz, with additional music by various artists
Old age can be fun, right? Well, if that's true, 70, Girls, 70 is going to need to make a better case for it. Come listen as John and Mark shuffle their way through this band of medicated minstrels, and emerge having learnt no new life lessons.
70, Girls, 70- The Broadhurst Theatre- 1971
Music- John Kander
Lyrics- Fred Ebb
Book- Fred Ebb and Norman L. Martin
A compilation of yuk-yuks that didn't make the final cut in our Prince of Central Park episode, along with a special "Critical Reception" that just wasn't Broadway ready.
A show with a mistreated orphan, drugs, violent gangs, and 80s aerobics, mixed with the pizzazz and flash of a standard, cookie cutter Broadway Musical? What could go wrong? Mark and John, navigate the podcast's first interview, with Broadway stars Richard H. Blake and Tony Galde, and with their guidance, discover what made Prince abdicate its throne at the Belasco after four short performances.
Prince of Central Park- 1989- The Belasco Theatre
Music by Don Sebesky
Lyrics by Gloria Nissenson
Book by Evan H. Rodes
This weeks episode hits way too close to home, when a fictional president, after losing reelection, uses his followers to perpetrate a fascist coup. How did the Gershwins know? Are they time travelers? Find out this week on Flop of the Heap.
Let 'Em Eat Cake- Imperial Theatre- 1933
Music- George Gershwin
Lyrics- Ira Gershwin
Book- George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
It's a Christmas Special. Snow is falling! Or are those Flahooley dolls? Come learn a little class consciousness from John, Mark, and the man who wrote "Over the Rainbow" in this very merry, Marxist episode!
Flahooley- Broadhurst Theatre- 1951
Music- Sammy Fain
Lyrics- E.Y. Harburg
Book- E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy
Includes music performed by Barbara Cook
The Education of HYMAN KAPLA*N has a lot of asterisks, and is obnoxious to type, but it has Tom Bosley. You know...the dad from Happy Days. He's cute. But is he enough to redeem this show? I don't know, come get educated!
The Education of HYMAN KAPLA*N - 1968- The Alvin Theatre
Music and Lyrics- Paul Nassau and Oscar Brand
Book- Benjamin Bernard Zavin
What is Chu Chem? Is it the best Chinese-Hebrew musical of all time? Probably, but there weren't many nominees. Is it a delicious little kosher egg roll of a show? Probably not. Will Mark be "right for once" this episode? Yes, but it had to happen eventually.
Join as Mark and John present the first episode of our Hanukah double-header. The Education of HYMAN KAPLA*N is next, so grab a plate of latkes and enjoy.
Chu Chem- 1989- Ritz Theatre
Music- Mitch Leigh
Lyrics- Jim Haines and Jack Wohl
Book- Ted Allan
John and Mark belly flop into Broadway's most notorious flop, Kelly. Find out the answers to many questions: Why did Steve Brodie really jump off the Brooklyn Bridge? Is court ordered arbitration a good cure for the common flop? And, how the heck do you pronounce Bertolt Brecht? Find out in this exciting episode.
Kelly
Produced- 1965 Broadhurst Theatre
Music- Moose Charlap
Lyrics- Eddie Lawrence
Book- Eddie Lawrence
A magic show disguised as a musical? Starring Doug Henning? What could go wrong? Come find out!
Merlin
Produced- 1983 Mark Hellinger Theatre
Music- Elmer Bernstein
Lyrics- Don Black
Book- Richard Levinson and William Link
A Preview of the upcoming series, explaining the show's purpose and defining the Broadway "flop."