Flop of the Heap

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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 Mark, 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.

Mark Alpert and John Anker Bow


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 57m AVG DURATION
    • 62 EPISODES

    4.6 from 82 ratings Listeners of Flop of the Heap that love the show mention: mark and john, flop, musicals, broadway, theatre, bravo, terrible, witty, bad, hosts, hilarious, interesting, humor, must listen, funny, knowledge, informative, great podcast, show, enjoy.


    Ivy Insights

    The Flop of the Heap podcast is an absolute pleasure to listen to. Hosted by John Bow and Mark Alpert, this podcast is a must-listen for theatre enthusiasts and history buffs alike. With their blend of knowledge, cleverness, creativity, and entertainment value, the hosts make each episode a delightful deep dive into musicals that didn't quite make the grade.

    One of the best aspects of The Flop of the Heap podcast is the hosts' expertise and passion for musical theatre. Both John Bow and Mark Alpert have a deep understanding and appreciation for the art form, which shines through in their discussions. They provide in-depth analysis and historical context for each flop they cover, making it educational as well as entertaining. Their comedic wit and anecdotes add an extra layer of enjoyment to each episode.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its ability to shed light on forgotten or overlooked musicals. While some may consider these productions failures, John and Mark recognize that even unsuccessful shows can have interesting stories behind them. They bring attention to these often-neglected pieces of theatrical history and explain why they think they fell short. It's fascinating to hear their insights on what could have been done differently to potentially change the outcome of these shows.

    While there aren't many negative aspects to The Flop of the Heap podcast, one minor criticism could be that it caters primarily to those already familiar with musical theatre. While John Bow and Mark Alpert do an excellent job connecting lesser-known shows to more well-known ones, someone without much knowledge or interest in Broadway might not fully appreciate all the references made throughout each episode. However, this doesn't detract from the overall quality and enjoyment of the podcast.

    In conclusion, The Flop of the Heap podcast is a fantastic listen for anyone interested in musical theatre or curious about lesser-known productions that didn't succeed on Broadway. With its knowledgeable hosts, humorous banter, educational content, and engaging storytelling, this podcast is sure to entertain and inform. Whether you're a seasoned theatre lover or just looking for something fun and informative to listen to, The Flop of the Heap delivers on all fronts.



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    Latest episodes from Flop of the Heap

    BONUS Chit-Chat & Listener Mail Episode!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 22:53


    Marla & John chat about this & that and read some listener mail.June is Bustin' Out All Over!

    Harrigan 'n' Hart - "A Silly Little Valentine"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 62:46


    Music by Max ShowalterLyrics by Peter WalkerBook by Michael StewartFeaturing music by Harrigan & HartDirected by Joe LaytonStarring Mark Hamill, Harry Groener, Chrisitne Ebersole, Armelia McQueen & Tudi RocheOpened on Broadway January 31, 1985

    It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman! - "Half-Sly Vaudeville"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 61:52


    Music by Charles StrouseLyrics by Lee AdamsBook by David Newman & Robert BentonDirected & Produced by Harold PrinceStarring Jack Cassidy, Linda Lavin, Bob Holiday, Patricia Marand & Michael O'SullivanOpened on Broadway March 29, 1966

    Shinbone Alley - "A Maze of Mediocrity"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 65:22


    Music by George KleinsingerLyrics by Joe DarionBook by Joe Darion & Mel BrooksDirected by NobodyStarring Eartha Kitt & Eddie BrackenOpened on Broadway April 13, 1957

    The Gay Life - "House Frau, Mouse Frau"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 66:57


    Music by Arthur SchwartzLyrics by Howard DietzBook by Kay Kanin & Michael KaninDirected by Gerald Freedman & Herbert RossStarring Walter Chiari, Barbara Cook, Jules Munshin, Loring Smith, Jack Adams & Elizabeth AllenOpened on Broadway November 18, 1961

    Rocky - "My Nose Ain't Broken"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 62:24


    Music by Stephen FlahertyLyrics by Lynn AhrensBook by Thomas Meehan & Sylvester StalloneDirected by Alex TimbersChoreography by Steven Hoggett & Kelly DevineStarring Andy Karl, Margo Seibert, Terence Archie, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Dakin Matthews & Jennifer MudgeOpened on Broadway March 13, 2014

    Into the Light - "Thin Fabric"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 60:00


    Music by Lee HoldridgeLyrics by John ForsterBook by Jeff TamborinoDirected by Michael MaurerStarring Dean Jones, Thomas Batten, Susan Bigelow, Danny Gerard & Gordon StanleyOpened on Broadway October 22, 1986

    Cry For Us All - "CLUNK!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 70:04


    with Special Guest Host Connor McAndrewsMusic by Mitch LeighLyrics by Phyllis Robinson & William AlfredBook by William Alfred & Albert MarreDirected by Albert MarreStarring Joan Diener, Steve Arlen, Robert Weede, Tommy Rall & Helen Gallagher.Opened on Broadway April 8, 1970

    The Pirate Queen - "All Plot, No Heart"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 58:03


    Music by Claude-Michel SchönbergLyrics by Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr. & John DempseyBook by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg & Richard Maltby, Jr.Directed by Frank GalatiStarring Stephanie J. Block, Hadley Fraser, Linda Balgord, Marcus Chait, Jeff McCarthy & William YoumansOpened on Broadway April 5, 2007.

    Rags - "Another load of human dirt"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 66:18


    Music by Charles StrouseLyrics by Stephen SchwartzBook by Joseph SteinRevisions by David ThompsonDirected by Gene SaksStarring Teresa Stratas, Larry Kert, Lonny Price, Judy Kuhn, Terrence Mann & Dick LatessaOpened on Broadway August 21, 1986.

    BONUS June Listener Mail Episode!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 21:42


    Marla & John read some listener mail and go off on several random tangents in this very special bonus episode!!!!

    Peg - "Look at Me, I'm Peggy Lee!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 57:40


    John & Marla break down the unmitigated disaster that was the Peggy Lee musical.Music by Paul HornerLyrics by Peggy LeeBook 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 ColemanStarring Peggy LeeOpened on Broadway December 14, 1983.

    Sail Away - "A Cruise to Nowhere"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 70:49


    Special Guest Host Connor McAndrews joins John to discuss this titanic Broadway flop!Music by Nöel CowardLyrics by Nöel CowardBook by Nöel CowardDirection by Nöel CowardPoster Design by Nöel CowardCasting by Nöel CowardRe-casting by Nöel CowardStarring Elaine Stritch (and some other people).Opened on Broadway October 3, 1961

    Bring Back Birdie - "A Gloomy Middle Age"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 67:16


    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 AdamsBook by Michael StewartDirected, Choreographed (and Conceived!) by Joe LaytonStarring Chita Rivera, Donald O'Connor, Maria Karnilova, Marcel Forestieri, Robin Morse, Evan Seplow, Jeb Brown & Lynda Ferguson

    Flora, The Red Menace - "Milk & Cookies for the Kids!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 65:20


    Music by John KanderLyrics by Fred Ebb Book by George Abbott & Robert RussellOpened on Broadway May 11, 1965

    Pickwick - "What the Dickens?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2023 66:03


    Music by Cyril OrandelLyrics by Leslie BricusseBook by Wolf MankowitzOpened on Broadway October 4, 1965

    Bonus Bitching Episode!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 67:15


    John & Marla read listener mail, ask each other flop trivia and generally bitch about the Sweeney Todd revival stunt casting.

    The Woman In White - "Houseguest, Mouse Guest"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 67:43


    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 WebberSpooky Lyrics by David ZippelSpooky Book by Charlotte JonesSpookily Directed by Trevor NunnStarring Maria Friedman, Michael Ball, Jill Paice, Adam Brazier & Ron Bohmer.Opened on Broadway November 17, 2005.

    Grind - "Bomb in a Butter Churn"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 70:34


    Guest host Connor McAndrews joins John to dissect this '80s flop:  GRIND.Music by Larry GrossmanLyrics by Ellen FitzhughBook by Fay KaninDirected by Harold PrinceStarring Ben Vereen, Leilani Jones, Stubby Kaye & Timothy Nolen.Opened on Broadway April 16, 1985

    I Had A Ball - Part 2 - "You're A Fraud, Freud"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 53:15


    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.

    I Had A Ball - Part 1 - "Can It Be Possible?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 59:07


    Music & Lyrics by Jack Lawrence & Stan FreemanBook by Jerome ChodorovStarring Buddy HackettOpened on Broadway December 15, 1964

    Listener Mail Special!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 41:20


    Marla & John read listener mail in this very special episode of FLOP OF THE HEAP!!!

    Bad Cinderella - Part 2 - "Wacko Storybook Dumpster Fire"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 51:36


    Part 2 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blind stab at teen pop realness.

    Bad Cinderella - Part 1 - "Bibbidi Bobbidi Basic"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 64:13


    Music by Andrew Lloyd WebberLyrics by David ZippelBook by Emerald Fennell & Alexis ScheerOpened on Broadway March 23, 2023

    Dear World - Part 2 - "Take the Stitches Out"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 56:32


    Part 2 of Dear World with guest host Connor McAndrews!Get ready forrrr.....  Criticalllll.....  Receptionnnnn!!!

    Dear World - Part 1 - "Get Off That Critical List"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 70:12


    Music & Lyrics by Jerry HermanBook by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. LeeOpened on Broadway February 6, 1969Guest Host: Connor McAndrews

    Very Warm For May - "Not So Hot For November"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 51:14


    Music by Jerome KernBook & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein IIOpened on Broadway November 17, 1939

    Starmites - "The Cruelty, Milady; Milady, the Cruelty"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 56:04


    Music & Lyrics by Barry KeatingBook by Stuart Ross & Barry KeatingOpened on Broadway April 27, 1989

    Diana- Episode 2- "Jolly Well Done"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 35:38


    Diana- Episode 1- "Better Than A Wank"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 46:42


    Mack and Mabel- Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2023 60:25


    Music and Lyrics- Jerry HermanBook- Michael Stewart

    Mack and Mabel- Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2023 41:57


    Music and Lyrics- Jerry HermanBook- Michael Stewart

    Sherry - "A Lovely Liver's About To Die"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 65:46


    Breakfast At Tiffany's - "A Bucket Of Ribs, A Bottle Of Corn"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 62:52


    Breakfast at Tiffany's- 1966 - Majestic TheatreMusic/Lyrics- Bob MerrillBook- Edward Albee

    Lysistrata Jones- "Give Up Givin' It Up!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 51:53


    Lysistrata Jones- Walter Kerr- 2011Music and Lyrics- Lewis FlinnBook- Douglas Carter Beane

    Subways Are For Sleeping- "Wake up. Get Out. Go up. Cross over."

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 68:55


    Anyone Can Whistle- Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 52:31


    Join John, Marla, and Special Guest, Connor McAndrews on our first Sondheim flop adventure. Find Connor on Insta @connormcandrews and @southphillybarefootcontessaAnyone Can Whistle- 1964- The MajesticMusic and Lyrics- Stephen SondheimBook- Arthur Laurents

    Anyone Can Whistle- Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 47:39


    Join John, Marla, and Special Guest, Connor McAndrews on our first Sondheim flop adventure. Find Connor on Insta @connormcandrews and @southphillybarefootcontessaAnyone Can Whistle- 1964- The MajesticMusic and Lyrics- Stephen SondheimBook- Arthur Laurents

    Home Sweet Homer- Was He Guarding or Barding?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 64:18


    Home Sweet Homer- 1976- The Palace TheatreThis one's a real Odyssey.Music- Mitch LeighLyrics- Charles Burr and Foreman BrownBook- Roland Kibbee and Albert Marre

    Smile - "Where the Hell is my Diaphragm?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 65:06


    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- 1986Book- Howard AshmanMusic- Marvin HamlischLyrics- Howard Ashman

    Dance of the Vampire- "I'll Show You Yours, If You Show Me Mine"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 62:10


    The Halloween Special No One Asked For.Dance of the Vampires- The Minskoff Theatre- 2002Book- David Ives and Michael KunzeLyrics- Jim Steinman and Don Black

    Triumph of Love- "Hey Mona Justa Say Cheesa"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 54:46


    How could a musical with so many great actors fail so miserably? Triumph of Love- The Royal Theatre- 1998Book- James MagruderComposer- Jeffrey StockLyrics- Susan Birkenhead

    Legs Diamond- "Let Me See Your Knockers"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 70:43


    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 TheatreMusic and Lyrics- Peter AllenBook- Harvey Fierstein 

    Raggedy Ann- "You're Sick, Sick, Sick"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 65:49


    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 TheatreMusic and Lyrics- Joe RaposoBook- William Gibson

    The Rink- “An Emancipated Pain In My Ass”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 66:58


    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- 1984Music- John KanderLyrics- Fred EbbBook- Terrence McNally

    Wildcat- “We'd Get the Spanish Flu”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 63:44


    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 TheatreMusic- Cy ColemanLyrics- Carolyn LeighBook- N. Richard Nash

    Taboo- "Did You See the Size of That!?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 70:39


    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 TheatreMusic and Lyrics- Boy GeorgeBook- Mark Davies Markham and Charles Busch

    Via Galactica- "Shall We Friend"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 63:00


    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- 1972Music- Galt MacDermotLyrics- Christopher GoreBook- Christopher Gore and Judith Ross

    Tenderloin- "Reverend Brock Testifies!!!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 60:23


    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 TheatreMusic- Jerry BrockLyrics- Sheldon HarnickBook- George Abbott and Jerome Weidman

    Dance A Little Closer- "Headin' For Armageddon"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 57:38


    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 TheatreMusic- Charles StrouseBook and Lyrics- Alan Jay Lerner

    The Capeman- "Killer Wants To Go To College"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 59:21


    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- 1998Music- Paul SimonLyrics and Book- Paul Simon and Derek Walcott

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