The Lord of the Rings was looooooong
Not Broadway, but in London, the gorgeous production of Cloudstreet at the National ran 7.5 hours with two intermissions and a dinner break. I could easily have gone back and watched it all over again. I'm still stunned Lincoln Center has never picked this up remarkable play. The cast (brought in from Australia) was superb. Lincoln Center really missed the boat on that one.
When I saw Lord of the Rings, it was right at 3 hours. The first time I saw Les Miserables, it was around 3 hours, 15 minutes, so Lord of the Rings didn't seem so long for me. My Fair Lady was right around 3 hours as well, if I remember.
And in Madrid, the performance we saw of Hoy, No Me Puedo Levantar ran 4 hours, 10 minutes. Granted, they had a little going-away speech for one of the cast members, but that was only about 5 minutes.
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? when done complete with 2 15 min intermissions clocks in at 3 hours 45 minutes. Albee cut some of the text for the recent revival, including the scene between George and Honey that ends Act II.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
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