Art and Freak are so far the only certain Broadway successes of the 1997-98 season, according to Variety's annual list of financial hits and flops. Under Variety's terms, a show counts as a hit only it it has recouped its investment during or by the end of its Broadway run; a flop is a show that did not recoup. (Variety does not record subsequent recoupment from touring or licensing productions.)

The list is certain to alter is the next few weeks, however. The Beauty Queen of Leenane, for example, is listed as "Status Undetermined," but will most likely recoup sometime this summer. And The Judas Kiss, also listed as "Undetermined," recently announced an expected return on its investment within the next two weeks.

The list runs as follows:

HITS
Art (P)*
Freak (P)*

FLOPS
The Capeman (M)
Golden Child (P-BA)
The Herbal Bed (P)
Jackie (P)
The Old Neighborhood (P)
Proposals (P)
Side Show (M)
Street Corner Symphony (M)
Triumph of Love (M) STATUS YET UNDETERMINED
The Beauty Queen of Leenane (P)*
The Chairs (P-R)*
The Diary of Anne Frank (P-R)
Forever Tango (M)
High Society (M)*
Honour (P)*
The Judas Kiss (P)*
The Lion King (M)*
1776 (M-R)*
Ragtime (M)*
The Scarlet Pimpernel (M)*
The Sound of Music (M-R)*
A View From the Bridge (P-R)*
Wait Until Dark (P-R)*

NONPROFIT, MISCELLANEOUS
Ah, Wilderness (P-R)*
Cabaret (M-R)*
The Cherry Orchard (P-R)
The Deep Blue Sea (P-R)
Ivanov (P-R)
Patti LaBelle on Broadway (Sp)
The Sunshine Boys (P-R)*

HOLDOVERS FROM LAST SEASON:
HITS
A Doll's House (P-R)
Barrymore (P)
The Last Night of Ballyhoo (P)*

FLOPS
Annie (M-R)
Candide (M-R)
Dream: A Johnny Mercer Musical (M)
The Life (M)
Steel Pier (M)
The King and I (M-R)
Victor/Victoria (M)

STATUS YET UNDETERMINED
Jekyll & Hyde (M)
Titanic (M)

KEY:
P--Play
M--Musical
R--Revival
So--Solo
Ret--Return Engagement
Rev--Revue
Sp--Special attraction
BA--Broadway Alliance production
Sub--Subscription
*--Show is still running.