Longest Running Time of a Broadway Show

[outthere1998]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 3:40pm

I was curious to know what the longest running time of a broadway show ever.  Not the time it has been on broadway but rather the duration of the show itself.

For musicals I did a quick google search and discovered that both Les Mis and Miss Saigon were 2 hrs and 50 mins with an intermission.

For plays Wolf Hall came to mind and each part was 2 hrs and 45 mins (i dont know whether or not that includes an intermission) 

 

I was wondering if anyone knew what play and what musical actually has the longest duration.

[IronMan]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 3:46pm

Before cuts were implemented in the original run (in order to save paying overtime to crew/musicians), Les Miz ran 3 hours 20 min. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 3:53pm

I can't give you a definitive answer, but I can tell you for sure that nothing 3-hours-long comes close. Even just this season, Long Day's Journey was 3h 45m.  

The longest show I've ever seen was The Iceman Cometh at BAM (5 hours long). It wasn't Broadway, but I would expect that other Broadway productions of Iceman Cometh had similar runtimes. 

Another very long one was "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," which was performed in 2 parts. The total runtime was 8.5 hours, each part being over 4 hours. 

 

Updated On: 7/1/16 at 03:53 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 3:58pm

the Spacey Iceman was over 4. As I recall, apprx 7-1130. I've seen quite a few longer shows off-B but I think that's my longest on. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 4:08pm

Many of O'Neill's plays are quite long. Strange Interlude and Mourning Becomes Electra both run between 4-5 hours, depending on the production. I've seen productions of Long Day's Journey Into Night that run as short as under 3 hours (the Jack Lemmon production on Broadway, and the David Suchet/Laurie Metcalf West End Revival) or over 4 hours (the 2003 Broadway revival). This season's revival was generally pretty much in the middle and was shortened mostly by the fact that it only utilized one intermission. I don't think it would be possible to do The Iceman Cometh in less than 4 hours and probably closer to 5.

If memory serves, Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy is quite long (pushing 4 hours).

Updated On: 7/1/16 at 04:08 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 4:23pm

If we're including Off-Broadway plays, some of Taylor Mac's have been 5 hours long or more.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 4:49pm

The first SHUFFLE ALONG preview was 4 hours, wasn't it?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 4:50pm

Jordan Catalano said: "The first SHUFFLE ALONG preview was 4 hours, wasn't it?"

 

No, it was shorter. I was there. The show started a bit late, around 8:10 or so, and the Curtain Call ended at 11:23. 

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 5:02pm

Shuffle Along wasn't ever O'Neill length, but it was close.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 5:10pm

Part 2 of Nicholas Nickleby ran 4 1/2 hours according to some research I just did.  It had two 12 min intervals. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 5:10pm

Gatz was almost seven hours, The Life and Times Episodes 1-4 was eight hours.

Strange Interlude ran five hours in its original production, Hamlet runs over 4 when produced in full.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 7:12pm

Not broadway but Seven stream of the Rive Ota ran just over 8 hours 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 7:15pm

How long is each part of Angels in America? I know the whole thing tends to be about eight hours or so, but I'm not sure if one part is longer than the other. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 8:28pm

Millennium Approaches is 3 hours, Perestroika is 4

[Peter2]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 8:33pm

RaisedOnMusicals said: "Part 2 of Nicholas Nickleby ran 4 1/2 hours according to some research I just did.  It had two 12 min intervals. "

 

Thank you for reminding me of that great theatrical event. I remember being cowed at the running time before I saw it, but it turned out to be completely enthralling and the time flew by.

 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 8:35pm

Fantod said: "Millennium Approaches is 3 hours, Perestroika is 4"

Huh, I figured Perestroika was longer, but I hadn't realized how short Millennium Approaches is. Granted, the only time I've seen it live was Ivo van Hove's version, which cuts the play significantly- the whole thing was about five and a half hours. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 10:50pm

Longest I've ever seen outside of Broadway was 12 hours. Taylor Mac is coming out with a 24-hour-long piece. 

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/1/16 at 11:21pm

August: Osage County was a good 3.5 hours, no?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 8:12am

I thought "Torch Song Trilogy" was over 3 hours when I saw it many years ago.

[John Adams]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 8:48am

I don't know what the actual running times were, but I think Time, The Lord of the Rings, and Gone With the Wind were lengthy shows.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 9:20am

Peter2 said: "RaisedOnMusicals said: "Part 2 of Nicholas Nickleby ran 4 1/2 hours according to some research I just did.  It had two 12 min intervals. "

Thank you for reminding me of that great theatrical event. I remember being cowed at the running time before I saw it, but it turned out to be completely enthralling and the time flew by.

 

I agree. I saw both parts in one day and when it ended, I wanted it to continue. The time flew by. I wanted to spend more time with this incredible ensemble of actors. It is still one of the top theatrical performances I have ever seen or ever will see. It was just that special.

 

 

"

 

[John Adams]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 9:39am

South Fl Marc said: "Peter2 said: "RaisedOnMusicals said: "Part 2 of Nicholas Nickleby ran 4 1/2 hours according to some research I just did.  It had two 12 min intervals. "

Thank you for reminding me of that great theatrical event. I remember being cowed at the running time before I saw it, but it turned out to be completely enthralling and the time flew by.

I agree. I saw both parts in one day and when it ended, I wanted it to continue. The time flew by. I wanted to spend more time with this incredible ensemble of actors. It is still one of the top theatrical performances I have ever seen or ever will see. It was just that special.""

Roger Rees - May God bless and keep him.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 9:46am

Of the ones I've seen the first few previews of America Psycho were over 3hrs long and A Streetcar Named Desire off Broadway was 3.5hrs long. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 11:22am

Child's play. Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen ("Ring Cycle" is 15 hours long.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 11:58am

The Ring Cycle uncut is over 15 hours long...but presented as four operas on four successive evenings. That's not really what is being discussed here. (And when we discuss opera, it should be acknowledged that a lot of the length of some opera evenings come from the long intermissions)