Broadway Stars that have graced the stage the LONGEST!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 5:18pm

Stars that have graced the stage continuously all these years!

CHITA RIVERA 1957 - Present! I think she tops the bill!!
MY CHITA WEBPAGE
http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/chitarivera

I'm sure these stars are up there too!

Mary Martin
Ethel Merman
Gwen Verdon
Bernadette Peters 1968-Present

Liza Minnelli should be on here, she isnt doing theatre anymore but started with theatre and is still doing concerts featuring musical theatre songs
1961-Present
Patti Lupone 1977-Present

LIZA MINNELLI MUSICAL THEATRE Updated On: 8/5/03 at 05:18 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 5:27pm

Rex Smith.

Oh wait.. you were talking about time. oops.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 5:28pm

WHAT?? I didn't say who has the longest, I said who graced the STAGE the longest. lol


Oh and we can mention the youngins who have been gracing the stage

Ruthie Henshall 1987 - Present
Alice Ripley 1993 - Present
Updated On: 8/5/03 at 05:28 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 9:01pm

TGC. She began her career in the early 50's and is planning to bring AN EVENING WITH CAROL CHANNING to Broadway this season.

Long Live Dolly!

[moljul]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 10:22pm

Well technically Bernadette made her professional stage debut in 1957 at the age of 9.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 10:31pm

Elaine Stritch first sang on a Broadway stage in 1947, nearly 56 years ago!

A revue called ANGEL IN THE WINGS.

She had the hit of the evening with a song, "Civilazation," where she sang "Bongo, Bongo, Bongo, I don't want to leave the Congo." A funny song if you haven't heard it.

Yours for a better Broadway!

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 10:58pm

how can you overlook the best stage actress ever??? winner of four Best Actress Tony Awards!!!! WON EVERY TIME SHE WAS NOMINATED!!!...these are probably the worst pies in london (you getting it yet?)...mame...Rose's Turn.....ANGELA LANSBURY!!!!!gotta love her!

[nyctopone]

Posted: 8/5/03 at 11:25pm

Julie Harris - debut 1945

Nominated for 10 Tony Awards - won 5 times.

First Tony Award 1952 - last in 1997 (Not including lifetime Tony Award in 2002).

Nobody else can even compare.

Updated On: 8/5/03 at 11:25 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 12:11am

yes i overlooked MANY divas, that's why I'm asking all of you!

[Kristie-K]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 1:05am

Oh my God, I saw Miss Julie Harris is Seattle 5 years ago...The Greatest stage experience of my life

[Nydiva]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 9:19am

Adding some personal faves (who are still active) to the list:

Broadway debuts:
George S. Irving - 1943
Kaye Ballard - 1954
Tom Aldredge - 1959
Philip Bosco - 1960
John Cullum - 1960
Carole Shelley - 1965

[alterego]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 9:28am

How about Zoe Caldwell?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/6/03 at 9:34pm

Very true. When was the last time you saw the wonderful Julie Harris on Broadway however?

Elaine Stritch was there just last year.

Yours for real stars on Broadway!

[orion59]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 12:42pm

How are you determining who is appropraite to this list? There are people mentioned here who have been dead for many yaers and some who are still around but have not been on a stage in years. If you go strictly by people who have recently been on a Broadway stage and strtch recently to maen within the past 2-3 years, the list dwindles.

Sorry, i'm just a stickler for precise criteria which is measurable...which may once again bring us back to Rex Smith

[Albin]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 12:47pm

"TGC. She began her career in the early 50's and is planning to bring AN EVENING WITH CAROL CHANNING to Broadway this season."

Wasn't this originally going to be called "An Evening With Carol Channing and her walker"?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 12:48pm

"Sorry, i'm just a stickler for precise criteria which is measurable...which may once again bring us back to Rex Smith"

LOL.

::pulls out a yard stick::

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 2:36pm

Damn you, Bulldog! I have been singing that silly BONGO BONGO BONGO song ever since I read your post. I can't get it out of my head and all my co-workers think I am crazy!

BONGO BONGO BONGO I DON'T WANNA LEAVE THE CONGO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!

[Victoria Grant]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 9:51pm

Julie Andrews is one of the longest I believe it was the late 50's with the Boyfriend.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/7/03 at 10:14pm

Bernadette Peters made her Broadway debut when she was 9. She's grown 4 inches since then!

[Starlight]

Posted: 8/8/03 at 8:15pm

Well I'm not really sure if you mean "longest" as in "if you added up their time in each show how long is it" or simply who has had a Broadway presence the longest regardless of the time spent in shows. Either way, I guess...Julie Andrews has spent her fair share of time on Broadway. Starting with "The Boy Friend" in 1954 up to Victor/Victoria in 1995. And thought its not exactly Broadway...her recent stint as a director in the BayStreet production of "The Boy Friend" was good to hear about. I'm sure if she could still sing she'd be on stage in some capacity to this day. It still breaks my heart to think of..

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 9:40am

The record still held is by Dame Sybil Thorndyke, on the boards for 72 years!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 11:41am

Julie Harris, who is one of the greatest actresses of the century, has been touring. She has been offered several chances to return to Broadway, but apparently would rather tour. I believe she was considered for Frau Schneider in the revival of Cabaret, but since she had been Broadway's original Sally Bowles even before there was a Cabaret, she decided not to pursue it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 12:00pm

One name that seems to appear every year in the New York Times that she is a play is Cherry Jones. So that is my vote for longest running actress.

[CherylA928]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 9:34pm

When I think of Stars that have graced the
Broadway stage, I think of Marian Seldes.

Her bio list 35+ plays from MEDEA in 1947 to
DINNER AT EIGHT in 2002.

4 Tony Award Nominations
Tony Award for A DELICATE BALANCE
3 OBIE Awards
Drama Desk Award

Theatre Hall of Fame in 1996

She also found time to teach acting at Julliard from 1968 to 1990.

Broadway.com ~ Star Files ~ Marian Seldes

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/9/03 at 11:07pm

Cheryl, Marian Seldes also held the Guiness Book of World Records title for longest continuous performer in a role (I haven't checked the book recently, maybe she still does). I believe she played the entire run of Deathtrap without calling in sick or taking a vacation. She must have either really loved the part or needed the money really badly.