How did Hairspray and Newsies end up being Broadway hits, while Heathers never opened on Broadway?

Hairspray, Heathers, and Newsies have many things in common.

They started as movies that became cult classics.

They became stage musicals years after the OG movie came out.

But there are also differences.

Hairspray and Heathers came out in 1988, while Newsies came out four years later.

Hairspray, Heathers, and Newsies started out as workshop musicals, but shortly became out of town tryouts.

Hairspray and Newsies went on to become Broadway musicals and instantly became smash hits. Heathers never even made it on Broadway, but it only got performed both on Off Broadway and West End.

So why did Hairspray and Newsies become Broadway smash hits while Heathers never even got a Broadway appearance, despite all three source materials being cult classics?