Broadway Theaters with the Best Run of Shows

[Jay94]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 12:05pm

I'm not sure if this topic makes sense but what broadway theatres have had the strongest line-up of shows play throughout the years? Conversely, which theatre has had the worst string of shows, not necessarily consecutively but cumulatively over the years?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 12:32pm

Even though it is only one show, I doubt any theater can surpass the Majestic and its continuous run of POTO

[Jonwo]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 12:35pm

I would say The Winter Garden since Cats ran there for 18 years and Mamma Mia! ran there for 12 years. 

The Lyric hasn't had a show that's recouped since it opened so I'd say it has a poor track record. 

[Jay94]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 1:07pm

I guess run was a bad word to use. I just mean in terms of the best shows or shows that you liked the most. They might have only ran for a month but you just really liked the shows that have been performed in that theatre.

For instance, I might say the Imperial because it had Fiddler on the Roof, Dreamgirls, Pippin, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Les Miserables, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Billy Elliot, Cabaret, Oliver, Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun etc.

And I might say that the Lyric has had my least favourite group of shows with Spider-Man, Young Frankenstein, The Pirate Queen, Hot Feet, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Updated On: 5/7/15 at 01:07 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 1:34pm

The Imperial has the best track record of all Broadway theatres.  For a theatre built in 1923, it has had far fewer tenants than most of the theatres of its vintage, meaning it has housed more long-running shows.  That includes the Majestic, the Winter Garden and other musical theatres of similar size.  (The Majestic and the Winter Garden both had periods where they seemed particularly snake bit).  

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 2:25pm

I wonder which theatre been home to the highest number of Best Musical and/or Best Play Tony winners. 

[Cesare2]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 5:01pm

More hit shows originated at the Richard Rodgers (formerly the 46th Street) Theatre than any other Broadway house.  

[gmhots]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 5:46pm

Winter Garden – like what was mentioned, nothing can beat the duo of Cats & Mamma Mia in a single location. Just sad.

Lyric as well – doesn't help that the theater is so darn huge.

I would say Imperial's great, I personally liked the shows that have been there. The Al Hirschfeld has also been fun, with How To Succeed... and now Kinky Boots (in recent memory.)

[all_that_jazz]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 8:09pm

From 1970 to today the Shubert has highest best musical wins with 5. The O'Neil, imperial, rogers, Neil Simon and palace all are in 2nd with three each.  This accounts for productions original homes not moving theatres.  

[all_that_jazz]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 8:14pm

of course the majestic has a 34 year run with best tony musicals having 42nd street in prior to phantom.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 8:55pm

The new amsterdam theatre has had terrific shows in it. The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Aladdin.

[theatredk]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 10:02pm

It is no longer a Broadway house the former Mark Hellinger had a string of flops before it closed, going fourth back it had a gourd with hits e.g.. the original production of My Fair Lady

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 10:18pm

Shubert was the first one to come to mind when I saw the title of this thread:  Chorus Line, Chicago revival, Crazy for You, Spamalot, Gypsy revival, Memphis, and now Matilda. Very impressive