Roll of the Dice: How 5 Classic Theatre Productions Overcame the Odds

When things go wrong in life, sometimes it’s easy to just throw the towel in and start again.

Yet sometimes persistence pays off.

In the world of theatre, many of the biggest success that we know today have overcome adversity to get where they are. Poor box office figures and terrible reviews have presented huge obstacles, but in the end the sheer will of the people behind it have pushed it to incredible heights.

Here are five examples of theatrical success that many thought were a lost cause.

1. Les Misérables (1985)

When Les Misérables premiered in London, nobody expected critics to pan it so harshly.

The Sunday Telegraph’s Francis King described the musical as “a lurid Victorian melodrama produced with Victorian lavishness”, while Michael Ratcliffe of The Observer called the show “a witless and synthetic entertainment”. Other theatrical scholars condemned the project, saying that the transition to a musical just didn’t work.

Yet Cameron Mackintosh and the creative team stuck with it, believing in the audience’s response, and their persistence paid off.

“Le Miz”, as it’s affectionately known among its fanbase, has become one of the longest-running and most beloved musicals in history. Its London production now has over 15,000 performances under its belt and it’s the longest-running musical in the West End – it’s also the second longest-running musical ever after The Fantasticks.

If the “Le Miz” team had listened to the critics, then this incredible run would never have happened, and the theatre world would be much worse off.

2. Candide (1956)

When Candide opened in the mid-1950s, it was a box office disaster. The production, with music by Leonard Bernstein, ran for just two months and was criticized in The New York Times for its exaggerated seriousness.

However, in 1973, Bernstein and Broadway theater directors decided to do something that every good responsible gambling guide warns against: chasing losses and doubling down. They reopened the show under a new direction and even without the script of original author Lilian Hellman.

This production was a hit, so much so that it inspired further revivals in 1988 and another Broadway production in 1997. Candide has since become a classic of the American musical theater, known for its beautiful score and witty satire.

3. Pippin (1972)

When Pippin began its pre-Broadway run in Washington, D.C., it struggled to connect with audiences.

Originally a student musical called Pippin, Pippin, it was performed by Scotch’n’Soda, Carnegie Mellon University’s theater troup. Written by Stephen Schwartz, it had a promising concept but lacked a clear artistic vision, according to critics at the time. Ticket sales were weak, and there were fears it wouldn’t survive on Broadway.

Enter Bob Fosse. The legendary director and choreographer took full control, adding his typically dark, stylized choreography, which brought a more seductive feel to the show. He also used his know-how to revamp its marketing, so when Pippin opened on Broadway in 1972, it was a different show: polished, visually striking, and uniquely Fosse’s. It also attracted a capacity crowd.

The turnaround worked. The show became a hit, running for nearly five years and winning five Tony Awards. Its legacy continued with a highly successful 2013 revival, and Schwartz and Fosse count it among each of their greatest works.

4. Into the Woods (1987)

Sometimes things take time to flourish.

Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods was one of them. This show was not an instant success. When it opened in San Diego for its pre-Broadway run, it received mixed reactions. Some audiences found its complicated storytelling confusing, while others struggled with the dark second act.

When the show moved to Broadway in 1987, it had slow ticket sales, although it was competing against The Phantom of the Opera, that season’s dominant production. Despite winning several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Into the Woods was not a massive commercial hit and closed after less than two years.

However, strong word-of-mouth, school productions, and home video recordings helped it build a devoted following.

Revivals in 2002, 2022, and a popular 2014 Disney film adaptation confirmed it as one of Sondheim’s most beloved musicals, proving that sometimes success takes time.

5. The Rocky Horror Show (1973)

The Rocky Horror Show debuted in a small London theatre in 1973, where it gained a niche but passionate audience.

Encouraged by this, the show moved to Broadway in 1975. However, American audiences weren’t ready for its mix of camp, rock music, and sexual liberation—it closed after just 45 performances, making it a big disappointment for its production team.

But the story didn’t end there. The film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), initially bombed in cinemas but later found an audience through midnight screenings, where fans dressed up, shouted lines, and turned it into an interactive experience. It has since become the longest-running release in film history.

This cult following breathed new life into the stage show, leading to highly successful revivals in countries including Australia to Canada.

Today, Rocky Horror is a global hit that has enter several side industries, including music and toys. Once again, it’s proof that something that may look doomed to failure can succeed against all odds and can even become a cultural icon.