One of our previous posts, we have mentioned there have been shows on Broadway that have been huge flops but had an incredible cult following.
Another one of those Broadway show that had a cult following was a musical version the 1990 cult film Cry-Baby. This show was the 2nd John Waters film that was turned into a Broadway Musical following the success of Hairspray (which won 8 Tony Awards in 2003 including Best Musical).
The musical version of CRY-BABY featured a score by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger and a book by the late Mark O’Donnell and the still living Thomas Meehan (who previously won a Tony for the book of HAIRSPRAY). The cast includes James Snyder in his Broadway Debut (as rebel Wade “Cry-Baby Walker), Elizabeth Stanley (as Good Girl Allison Vernon-Williams), Alli Mauzey in her showstopping performance (as the crazy obsessed stalker Lenora), Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (as Mrs. Vernon-Williams), Chester Gregory (as Durpee), Christopher J. Hanke (as Baldwin), Carly Jibson (as Cry-Baby’s pregnant sister Pepper), Tory Ross (as the tough Hatchet-Face), Lacey Kohl (as Wanda Woodward), and Richard Poe (as the Judge).
The story of CRY-BABY was about Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker (the leader of the delinquent “drapes”) who falls in love with an aspiring bad girl Allison Vernon-Williams (a squeaky clean “square”).
CRY-BABY first premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2007 before opening at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre in 2008 playing a total of 113 performances. The production received mixed reviews from critics but still received 4 Tony nominations in 2008 including Best Musical.
A cast recording was not released until 2015 featuring majority of the original Broadway cast.
Best New Musical: Cry-Baby
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