Musicals that actually DESERVE to be the longest running...- Page 2

[jacco]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:18pm

Although it is not at all my favourite, you cannot deny the lure of the Phantom. Brilliant marketing, spectacular scenery and the damn thing delivers. Recently saw it again in London after 10 years and it was actually much better than I remembered.

But of course Company or Caroussel should be the longest running show....

[Danielm]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:20pm

"Because audience attendance has nothing to do with quality."

And quality has nothing to do with audience attendance. Mama Mia is one of the dumbest shows ever to hit the boards, but audiences all over the world go and have a good time. There are thousands of better shows, but a show being good doesn't insure an audience in a world where people would rather sing along with all the songs and dance in the aisles. I think to say a show "deserves" a long run is just a set up for futility.

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:35pm

I think it is funny when people think that shows "deserved" longer runs...
Like the theatre police came and closed them.

The show is closed by its producers, and I'm sure that if they decided to put their all into a show, it is because they think it "deserved" to run until the end of times.

Of course there are promotional and marketing elements that contribute to the financial success of a show, but most Broadway shows are good at this, in my opinion.
I think it is a matter of timing - long running shows are so because they are in the right place at the right time - you may think they are incredible shows, or pure commercial trash, but the truth is that the shows are there, showing us what is the most popular with crowds in this moment of time,and what this generation of theatre goers, either experts or curious first timers or tourists, are most attracted to.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:46pm

My answer to this question is... none of them.

As much as I love theatrical successes... I don't think ANY show should "squat" down in a theatre for nearly two decades.

I want new shows, new talent, and new ideas to flow through Broadway.

Nothing should be "now and forever" on the Great White Way.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 5:58pm

A big problem with a lot of the long-running shows, is that they become sloppy. I know I saw Les Miz one time when both Cosette and Marius had their voices crack at the same time at the end of "A heart full of love" and they both laughed. And the last time I saw Phantom, it was so tremendously OVER-ACTED that I couldn't believe it. I know it's difficult to keep a performance fresh after running for a long time, but it's the responsibility of the producers (who are charging a TON of money) to make sure this happens.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:25pm

I don't know about longest running, but I feel that "Amour, Class Act, Sweet Smell of Success" all deserved much longer runs than they got.

In regards to what does run nowadays, I feel that that's pretty indicative of the "dumbing down of Ammerica". People don't want to feel pressured to think or put out any sort of active effort as an audience member. (However, the popularity of "Light in the Piazza somewhat belies this idea, even though it's success is hardly overwhelming or indicates an extremely long run-anyway it's a step in the right direction)

Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[MeleeQ]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 6:59pm

I don't know that any one show deserves to be the longest running. Phantom is not my favorite show in the world (out of the two, I prefer Les Mis)... but I know people who love it.

Really, I don't think ANY show should run ON Broadway for multiple decades (tours don't count), no matter HOW good it is. Becuase there are lots of other good shows, just waiting for a theater to free up so they can have their chance. Sure, lots of shows deserve long runs, but 20+ years? In the same PLACE?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:22pm

Eh, better Phantom than Cats.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:33pm

Les Miz.

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:37pm

I don't understand what's to hate about Phantom. The show far and away should be the longest running. The score is just miraculous, sweepingly lush and romantic, you can't beat it. It's theatrical yet accessible so people walking away feeling like they've enjoyed pure theatre but also humming the tunes. The lead characters demand intense and impressive performances and the show is many times breathtaking and very enchanting. I don't understand the hate. Les Miz is the only other show that would have such mass appeal. Phantom earns that title ticket by ticket. My 11 year old brother loves the show and so does my 50 year old dad, for different reasons. It's an all around winner. I know it's hard to root for the front runner, it's always the lesser known underdog who is the "REAL" artistic masterpiece, but you can't deny Phantom its glory.
Updated On: 12/12/05 at 07:37 PM

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:40pm

whichever musical EARNS the money in the box office and keeps the money coming in deserves to be there, but if you mean by the quality of the musical...I truly think whichever musicals closed, opened, or are still running are in the place they should be, it happened for a reason and will close in time

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:46pm

The Phantom of the Opera is certainly not worthy. Neither is Cats.

I would have loved to see A Chorus Line, or even Les Miserables.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 7:59pm

Phantom is way past its prime, just my two cents on that.
I think Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chicago and The Producers deserve to run longer that Phantom with Chicago coming as the longest running. Can you get any better than Chicago? I don't think so.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:02pm

In recent memory: Ragtime

[jv92]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:11pm

How could I forget Ragtime? That was brilliant. Some minor flaws, but brilliant.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:20pm

i wish urinetown was still open, that show coulda' run forever

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 8:32pm

Ragtime
In my opinion, universal and acessible to everyone. Gorgeous songs, compelling story, engaging characters...the whole nine yards!

[thez914]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:15pm

I hate to say it, but Wicked is going to wipe the floor with about every other musical for a long time to come.

Posted: 12/12/05 at 9:45pm

Im afraid wicked is going to become the next phantom...lol but that aside I definitely think les mis deserved this title. It's just one of those shows that every time I listen to the CD it gets better. If that makes any sense. Or maybe I'm just in a weird mood right now who knows lol.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 11:07pm

Ragtime deserves it, as does Parade.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 12/12/05 at 11:18pm

I agree with Parade and Ragtime both being very deserving. Especially Les Mis.

"All I know is Cats had no reason to be on Broadway as long as it was... "

Agree with that as well.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 12:24am

I felt Miss Saigon should have played a little bit longer... i mean if anything at least it should have celebrated 10 years as opposed to 9 years and 9 months...

but other than that... i thought for sure that les miserables would be around a bit longer

[rose&lark]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 1:12am

I think best12bars has an interesting point to raise. Broadway should have new talent after a certain point. I think this fits with the song from one of the Forbidden Broadway spoofs, "Beauty's Been Decreased." Point being, when shows are there for so long, they start losing their lustre, I think.

I do think that those shows that continue to bring theater goers in should continue to run, because they are doing a great job of luring people in, and once those people get in the theatre, they enjoy the show and want to come back or tell their friends.

Putting that aside, I think that there are some shows that did deserve longer or more attention getting runs than they received. Ragtime would be one, because it was overshadowed by Lion King. Parade I think is another, wonderful music and a very poignant and important story. But its the nature of every season on Broadway: there will always be the hits that are the most talked about for being the most flashy or the "little shows that could," and there will always be the flops, that for some reason or other didn't find their footing on Broadway.

[renthead2]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 10:14am

I love Phantom. I have nothing against it but what about Rent? I may be a bit biased towards it, becaus eI love it so much but I really think it has the potential to be one of the longest running musicals.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/13/05 at 10:25am

Rent, unfortunately, deals with subject matter that isn't of interest to a majority of the public in the US. I mean, look at how well the administration in this country has addressed AIDS and homelessness. It's probably why the movie isn't doing as well as many hoped.

Updated On: 12/13/05 at 10:25 AM