Can long run shows still be moving?

Do you think it's possible for a long running show (we're talking "Phantom" long) to still be just as moving 20 years down the line? Will it's quality ALWAYS discintigrate? Or is it possible (how?) to keep it just as effective as the day it opened?

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where would they move to?

I was going to come in here and offer that The Lion King was relocated. I guess that's not what we're talking about.

Of course it's possible. Your question has more to do with the age of the piece than with how long it's been running, really. Why do we revive old shows?

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For example, I saw RENT in april last year...I had seen the movie, but never the stage show. When I saw the stage show, I wasn't really moved by any of the performances. However, when I saw the filmed live on broadway cast, it was much more moving. It usually depends on the actors.

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On top of the above, I for one think a show depends on bringing in good new replacements as well. Speaking of Phantom, I know McGillian gets a lot of praise on here-relatively little, I know, but when I saw John Cudia on both tour and this past summer-ish on Broadway, I felt much more "moved" and into the show than with McGillian (whose what, been doing this for 8 years-ish?). Take "Jekyll & HYDE" -- for those that liked it, the reason it was so pulling was because each of the replacements brought something different; a new interpretation, but still loyal to the original/their predescor (which sounds like was not done with ReNT).

In turn, this usually keeps an audience coming back: look at the amount of people who have gone to see either The Little Mermaid again or for the first time because Heidi Blickenstaff joined the cast as Ursula, or will go back when Faith Prince returns. Who knows, they may like it that time around...