Not since Carrie : forty years of Broadway musical flops

From such legendary catastrophes as Breakfast at Tiffany's and Carrie to the failures of Alan Jay Lerner and Rodgers and Hammerstein, this hilarious account of some "lost" ... Library Journal While ample material on hit Broadway musicals is readily available, detailed critical information on musical flops has been difficult to come by. Mandelbaum's ( ``A Chorus Line'' and the Musicals of Michael Bennett , LJ 6/15/89) informative and entertaining survey of almost 200 musical flops from 1950 to 1990 fills the void admirably. Framed by the 1988 megaflop Carrie , which theater buffs still speak of in hushed tones, the shows are presented thematically rather than chronologically, thus better underscoring the reasons for failure. While Mandelbaum can be scathing about mediocre material, he carefully analyzes each show, pointing out both problems and strengths, and demonstrates a keen insight into Broadway musical history. Brief synopses and fascinating backstage gossip combine with intelligent criticism and well-chosen illustrations to make this study a required addition to all theater collections. Highly recommended.-- Eric W. Johnson, Teikyo Post Univ. Lib., Waterbury, Ct.

Not Since Carrie is Ken Mandelbaum's brilliant survey of Broadway's biggest flops. This highly readable and entertaining book highlights almost 200 musicals created between 1950 and 1990, framed around the notorious musical adaptation of Carrie, and examines the reasons for their failure. "Essential and hilarious," raves The New Yorker, and The New York Times calls the book "A must-read."

"Not Since Carrie is Ken Mandelbaum's brilliant survey of Broadway's biggest flops. This highly readable and entertaining book highlights almost 200 musicals created between 1950 and 1990, framed around the notorious musical adaptation of Carrie, and examines the reasons for their failure." --Publisher's website Prologue, Carrie: First New York Preview, April 28, 1988 -- Catastrophes And Camp -- Star Flops -- Major Writers -- The Movie Was Better -- Don't Let This Happen To You -- Missed Opportunities -- Not Bad -- Heartbreakers And Cream -- Epilogue, Carrie: How Did It Happen? Ken Mandelbaum. Includes Indexes. This book surveys Broadway's biggest flops, highlighting almost 200 musicals created between 1950 and 1990. Framed around the notorious musical adaptation of Carrie, this book examines the reasons for their failure There are flop musicals that cause those who remember them to evince regret over how far short their creators fell of their admirable goals.