Longest running performances in a broadway show?

[Jay94]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:32am

There isn't much information on this online; what are some of the longest running performances in a broadway show? In other words which actors have stayed with shows the longest?
I know that George Lee Andrews has been with Phantom since the beginning. Some others that I am aware of are Ann Miller who was with Sugar Babies for 3 years and I also heard the Jennifer Holliday was in Dreamgirls for almost 4 years.
Does anyone know anything about long running performances?

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:40am

Ryan Molloy from the London Cast of Jersey Boys has been playing the role for about three years now. I think Jarrod Spector has been with Jersey Boys for a long time as well.

This is a weird thing to count because most actors get tired of playing the same role for a long time.

Updated On: 6/4/11 at 01:40 AM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:42am

There was an actress who was in the ensemble of CATS for the entire run I believe.

[Boq101]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:45am

A member of the ensemble in Beauty and the Beast was there the whole time.

[Jay94]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 1:53am

Marlène Danielle was in Cats for the entire run and Bill Nabel was in Beauty and the Beast for the whole run.

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 2:06am

Howard McGillin played Phantom for 10 years with 2450 performances.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 2:10am

Insane. I would go nuts singing Andrew Lloyd Webber for 10 years.

[sking]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 4:14am

What are the longest for a lead role? And originating?

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 5:58am

The actors who originated Pumba and Timon in The Lion King only left within the last year, I think. So that's 12 years in the role.

A few actors in Phantom (the names are slipping at the moment) have been there since the start and are still there.

If you want to go Off-Broadway, there's always Perfect Crime...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:11am

Max Casella was the original Timon. He didn't stay that long. His replacement, Danny Rutigliano, however, was there forever.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:13am

Carol Channing has been with HELLO DOLLY for 75 years.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:52am

I think most of the current cast of Jersey Boys has been there for a few years.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:56am

12 years of Timon and Pumba? Oh my god.

[steven22]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 12:17pm

George Lee Andrews from Phantom has been there since day one...and he still is!

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 2:11pm

Cave paintings were recently discovered of Ted Neeley being crucified by pterodactyls while cavemen looked on.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 2:11pm

Constantine Maroulis has been playing Drew in Rock of Ages for 3 years now.

[egghumor]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 4:51pm

The two actors that always come to mind with this queestion are Kathi Moss, who was in the original cast of GREASE for almost all (or perhap all) of it's record-breaking run (although I could not find exact stats to support); and Marian Seldes in the original DEATHTRAP.

According to a DEATHTRAP trvia website:
'Seldes became famous for playing Myra for the entire run of 'Deathtrap's' Broadway season of 1793 performances, never missing a show. According to the 8 June 1982 edition of 'The New York Times', Seldes "won a listing in the next edition of the 'Guinness World Book of Records' as 'most durable actress'". Seldes apparently held this record for a time before the record was eventually beaten.'

Not sure who they're refering to in the final sentence.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 8:31pm

That one guy (I know, so specific) in HAIRSPRAY that was there the entire time. I think he played IQ? I just remember seeing it in its final months and wondering why one of the "Nicest Kids" was 40.

[Jay94]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 8:36pm

I think the most amazing run would be Catherine Russell who has been the lead in 'Perfect Crime' off-broadway since 1987. She's only missed 4 performances and has had no vacations.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:30pm

Jennifer Holliday did not play Effie on Broadway for 4 years.

[egghumor]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:37pm

Thanks Miss, for clearing that up regarding Jennifer Holliday. I saw DREAMGIRLS 16 times during the original run, and I seem to recall that Miss Holliday left the production as soon as her contract was up, but opened the show on the west coast, and then departed for good.

She always hated being on a "favored nations" contract in New York (who can blame her?), but she milked the producers for money for the west coast engagement, which they later claimed she "bled dry."

[egghumor]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:40pm

Oh, and I think the CATS original cast member that someone made reference to earlier is Anna McNeely, who stayed with the show slightly less than forever.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:44pm

Anna McNeely wasn't in Cats for its entire run.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:50pm

I know it hasn't been from the beginning but Donna Marie Asbury has been in Chicago for over 10 years now.

[egghumor]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 9:58pm

OK, Phyllis, I never said she was. How long exactly did she hoof in CATS?