Longest running performances in a broadway show?

#1

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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?

#2

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

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

#3

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

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"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards

#4

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

#5

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

#6

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

Howard McGillin played Phantom for 10 years with 2450 performances.

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#7

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

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I like your imperturbable perspicacity.

#8

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

#9

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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...

#10

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

#11

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

Carol Channing has been with HELLO DOLLY for 75 years.

#12

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

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A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

#13

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

12 years of Timon and Pumba? Oh my god.

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Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

#14

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

#15

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

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"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from." ~ Charles M. Schulz

#16

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

#17

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

#18

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

#19

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

#20

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

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And I Am Always So Vitriolic

#21

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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."

#22

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

#23

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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

#24

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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.

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And I Am Always So Vitriolic

#25

Longest running performances in a broadway show?

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

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