Long-running shows you've never seen on Broadway

As I was planning my trip to New York for next month and seeing which shows to see, I realised that there are some shows like Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys that I haven't actually seen on Broadway in any of my several trips to New York. I've seen overseas or touring productions, but since I've seen them elsewhere, I don't feel the need to see them again when I'm in New York, although funnily enough, I would see them again if they toured Australia. And I do tend to see shows several times. I'm seeing this production of Pippin for the third time in December.

I'm not a big Phantom fan, so it's been at the bottom of my list to watch. Mamma Mia is OK but I also think every production will probably be the same. I really like Jersey Boys, though. I guess there are always newer shows to see. Or celebrity castings that entice me to buy a ticket.

What are current or former long-running shows you've never seen on Broadway and why?

Chicago and Jersey Boys. I saw them tour before I moved to NYC, and was never that into them.

Mamma Mia
Jersey Boys
Rock of Ages
Book of Mormon
Chicago
I wanna see all of these shows but I always end up choosing a new show instead haha

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Tobacco Road. Life with Father.

Out of all the long-running shows still on Broadway, I've seen...

On Broadway:
Mamma Mia!
Jersey Boys

On Tour:
The Phantom of the Opera
The Lion King
Wicked
Rock of Ages
The Book of Mormon

Never Seen:
Chicago

Chicago. No real reason I've been avoiding it; just no motivation.

I've seen Rock of Ages and The Lion King, but on tour and not on Broadway.

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Phantom
Jersey Boys
Chicago

I have no interest in any of them.

Never seen (on Broadway at least), Mamma Mia!, Phantom, Jersey Boys, and Lion King. Not going to waste a slot on a show I can see basically anywhere.

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Amazed Jersey Boys ever found an audience, but yeah add me to that list, never saw it, never will. Rock of Ages, saw the first 10 minutes.

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Growing up in Chicago I saw all the long runners on tour first. In the late 90s a friend went to New York and saw les Miz on broadway (right after the cleanup) and raved about how much better it was than the tour. That got me curious about if the original new York productions of these shows were better than the tour's we saw in Chicago. So my first trip to new York included seeing phantom/rent/Les miz/miss saigon. All shows I saw on tour previously. I avoided Chicago (the show) for years because I didn't like it in tour. I finally gave in and saw it on broadway and fell head over heels in love. I Got so familiar with phantom New York that I could point out all of the many many differences between the original tour version and broadway. A show like Rent and even Les Miz had far fewer differences. Wicked And Lion King are also shows that work better in new York . But unfortunately, on this board, long running equals bad : (

Updated On: 11/26/14 at 08:05 AM

South Park has a few epic episodes one of which is "Broadway Bro Down". Mormon was great but once was enough. Any Broadway fans who haven't seen that episode, go to their website it was hysterical.

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Current:
Jersey Boys - I just have no interest
The Lion King - Tickets are expensive, I feel like I will be hating all the tourists around me (especially after my experience at Wicked), and from what I've seen in B-Roll & such, I'm not really a fan of the theatrical elements/direction...
Rock of Ages - I've been indifferent about the show but I might catch it before it closes
Mamma Mia! - I saw the movie and it further my desire to not see the stage production... Unless someone like Sebastian Stan comes in as Sky or something...

(I finally saw Chicago as I was given comps... Yeah, no, not even with comps did I feel like it was worth seeing)

Past:
Billy Elliot - I wish I saw it, actually
In The Heights - I wish I saw this, too

Never saw Phantom or Lion King or Jersey Boys

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