Longest running performances in a broadway show?- Page 2

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 10:00pm

I dunno, but she did Gypsy in 89 so she left before then, I'm assuming.

[egghumor]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 10:10pm

According to this website, McNeely stayed with CATS for seven years. Oy.
Anna McNeely as Jennyanydots

[suttonfoster]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 10:20pm

Another girl from HAIRSPRAY was in the show the entire run.

Ryan O'Connor was there closing night

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRyanOConnorShow#p/u/95/gK2I6AdGtc4

around 5:35, he interviews her a little

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 6/4/11 at 11:01pm

Doreen Montavalo was in the ensemble of In the Heights from Off Broadway (maybe workshops even?) to closing night, as was Priscilla Lopez.

[LoveDemBroadwayShows2]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 3:38am

Gregory Jbara has been the dad for the entire Billy Elliot run, I think.


*** Update ***
I just checked IBDB and Greg took a leave for 3 months in early 2010 but has been back in ever since.
Updated On: 6/5/11 at 03:38 AM

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 7:57am

ILuv2shop531- Doreen has been involved with workshops of ITH since 2002, playing Alma (cut), Abuela Claudia, and her ensemble track over the years.

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 8:03am

Gavin Lee has been doing Bert in Mary Poppins since they tried out in the UK.
I mean, he hasn't been with the broadway production the whole time, but he's been playing Bert consistently since 2004.

Also, Steve Blanchard played the beast in Beauty and the Beast for 11 years.

[Justin D]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 10:19am

Tshidi Manye has been playing Rafiki in Lion King since at least 2004 and before that was playing her in Toronto.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 10:21am

About 10 people in the Mary Poppins cast have been there since it opened in 2006. (Here or there they may have taken brief leaves of absence, but so has George Lee Andrews at Phantom).

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 11:18am

How long was Michelle Robinson in Chicago? 11 years?

[petesimpson]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 3:34am

Ridiculously late to this thread!

That said, w/ some selfish shock, I'll post here that I may be somewhere in the top range having done over 4,000 performances of Blue Man Group in 18-years (my NY debut was October 6th, 1996; I have another two back-to-back shows tomorrow night these 18 1/2 years later...)

It's not technically Broadway, to be sure, but I'd be remiss to not say something..

Best,

 

Pete

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 6:27am

Myron McCormack played Billis for the entire original run of "South Pacific."

 

O.P.: Jennifer Holliday left the original cast of "Dreamgirls" around a year into its run. 

[mariel9]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 6:44am

That's amazing, Pete. Kudos.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 7:33am

Good for you, Pete! Years in Blue Man Group sounds more interesting than any of the other shows mentioned here.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 8:25am

I know it's not officially considered "performances" but a lot of the pit musicians stay with the same show for years..I think at Wicked the majority have been there the entire time and it's not much different at other shows..

[Lovinbroadway2]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 11:06am

^

Well, pit musicians can do that. First of all, it's Wicked, so they don't have to worry about it closing for another decade.  Second, the pit doesn't have to worry about typecasting. 

Updated On: 4/11/15 at 11:06 AM

[aj88]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 11:17am

If I recall, there was a least one if not a couple of men from the original production that stayed with it for the entire run (which wasn't a majorly long run...like 3 1/2 years)...but one of them never missed a performance. I want to say, though I may be wrong, that it was William Duell, who played McNair the Custodian.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 1:04pm

^^ I only used the Wicked pit as an example..it holds true with most shows.

But I also don't necessarily agree. You certainly can get type cast in a pit of an orchestra - if you play one show long enough. You are not out there, other people become cast when new shows come up. If you are playing in a jazzy show, a contractor may not think of you first when casting something more lyrical.  Keeping a long running show is secure in certain ways but not all ways. You really have to keep busy on the side to keep your name out there..

[petesimpson]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 3:06pm

Thanks a lot.  It's something I've talked about much, but suddenly there it is; don't know where the years went!

 

[petesimpson]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 3:10pm

Thank you!  I guess I just have to keep the yoga and carrot juice going and hope the blue greasepaint keeps washing off at the end of the night =-)

Best to you,

Pete

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 5:01pm

this is a great thread!

I think Billy Porter wins for long runs by a lead in recent years

He led Kinky Boots from previews in Chicago Sept 2012 and Bway launch march 2013 until recent hiatus in Feb 2015. Thats 2.5 years (not counting rehearsals before previews) and the longest I can think of for a recent broadway lead performer...

Of course yul brenner made a whole career out of King and I 

Love the heiroglyphics quote about ted mcneeley and jc superstar!

Julie andrews did my fair lady for over two years on on broadway then opened it in london as well, and was doing my fair lady still on ed sullivan six years after it opened....

really admire the discipline and passion of an actor to do eight shows a week, all in 100%+ for multiple years....

 

incredible!

 

 

Updated On: 4/12/15 at 05:01 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 5:15pm

"
Julie andrews did mary poppins for a long time on broadway then opened it in london as well, and was doing mary poppins on ed sullivan six years after it opened....
really admire the discipline and passion of an actor to do eight shows a week, all in 100%+ for multiple years....
 
incredible
 
 What are you talking about?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/11/15 at 5:19pm

I think this ancient thread (and yet that Perfect Crime actress is still in it, I see...)  should make one distinction though.  George Lee Andrews, for example, has not played the same role throughout his time at Phantom (and if we wanna be technical he has taken time off--not just regular vacations but for other shows, like his month run in NYCO's A Little Night Music in 1990.) 

Updated On: 4/11/15 at 05:19 PM

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 12:49am

brain freeze!

 

I meant Julie Andrews did my fair lady(not mary poppins) on broadway from march 1956-march 1958, then opened then london production from april 1958 and i cant find when she left the london production

I assume she was in london at least a year, since ive seen 1958 playbills from london- she may have stayed with it until 1960, when she was cast in camelot

 

does anyone know how long Julie did my fair lady in london?

 

 

[Tag]

Posted: 4/12/15 at 1:00am

Andrews did 2 years on Broadway and 18 months in London.