The list of longest-running shows is now as follows:
1. The Phantom of the Opera
2. Chicago
3. The Lion King
4. Cats
5. Les Misérables
6. A Chorus Line
7. Oh! Calcutta!
8. Mamma Mia!
9. Beauty and the Beast
10. Rent
11. Wicked
12. Jersey Boys
etc.
Updated On: 10/31/15 at 06:38 PM
The show is unstoppable! More worthy than CATS.
Cats was at least half way entertaining, this droll, boring show was well, droll and boring. Nice to see still a couple of shows from the 70's still in the mix
Half way? Cats was pure joy! The Broadway production anyway. Not the rap version currently at the Palladium. The Lion King is fun too though. They're all worthy. There's no rule that says only quality shows are allowed to break records.
It's awesome that we can see some of these shows in our generation.. imagine how in the future, theatre goers wont have the opportunity.
Let's be honest, unless some kind of natural disaster swallows NYC into the ocean a lot of these shows will still be running.
I wouldn't expect the top 3 to change for quite some time.
Is the amount of performance only for one production of a show or does it include all the productions? Like are the number of performances in the two revivals of Les mis accounted for in the Total amount of performances? Also how did oh Calcutta run that long?
Leading Actor Joined: 9/16/15
Call_me_jorge said: "Is the amount of performance only for one production of a show or does it include all the productions? Like are the number of performances in the two revivals of Les mis accounted for in the Total amount of performances? Also how did oh Calcutta run that long?
"
the number they're referring to is for the Broadway production
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
The original 1987 Les Miz is in the #5 position. The 2007 and 2014 revivals are separate productions with a separate performance count. Same goes for Chicago. It's #2 status only counts the 1996 production's performances.
The number of performances from the revival is not added to the original number. The Les Miserables on the list is the original production. The Chicago near the top of the list is the revival and if you were to go further down the list you'd find the original production of Chicago somewhere in the extended ranking as well. The numbers are not added.
CATSNYrevival said: "Cats was pure joy! The Broadway production anyway. Not the rap version currently at the Palladium."
That's a bit much. Sure, the new rap version of the the Rum Tum Tugger is rubbish, but apart from that it's basically the same show...
Updated On: 11/1/15 at 06:55 AM
CATSNYrevival said: "The number of performances from the revival is not added to the original number. The Les Miserables on the list is the original production..."
I wonder where that would put Les Misérables if its numbers were added up.
It also seems that Wicked will pretty soon become the 10th longest-running show of all time.
Double Post
Updated On: 11/1/15 at 09:53 AM
down the road the Top 5 will eventually be:
1. Phantom
2. Chicago
3. Lion King
4. Wicked
5. Cats
The order for the top 4 will only change when one of the 4 productions eventually closes. I'd say Chicago is the most likely to be the first to close, but that's still years away from happening.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
Good for Lion King
I wonder if it would have made it if it didnt have the animated movie brainwashing every kid in america for the past 20 years?
Does anyone believe any of the musicals of the last fifteen years other than Wicked and Jersey Boys will have the popularity to make the top 10?
If so, which ones?
It's pure speculation but I'd say The Book of Mormon may find its way up there. I think it's too soon to guess if Hamilton will have continued success after Lin leaves the cast. In the Heights suffered a bit after he left and while Hamilton is a completely different kind of phenomenon it's just too soon to know if it has the staying power to stick around for the 10 to 15+ years that it takes to make it near the top of that list.
broadwaysfguy said: "Does anyone believe any of the musicals of the last fifteen years other than Wicked and Jersey Boys will have the popularity to make the top 10?"
I'm not so sure Jersey Boys will crack the top 10. There's about a 900-performance difference between Wicked and JB (which are each at 11 and 12, respectively, at the moment), and I don't think JB will continue to run so long to keep moving its way up.
Joined: 12/31/69
someday it will be:
1. Phantom
2. Lion King
3. Wicked
4. Book of Mormon
5. Hamilton
Anything Goes! said: "someday it will be:
1. Phantom
2. Lion King
3. Wicked
4. Book of Mormon
5. Hamilton
"
maybe it's just me, but I don't see Hamilton lasting 10 years+.
^ It IS just you.
Joined: 12/31/69
Hamilton is a universal story and will always be relevant and it's an incredible show. For those reasons, I believe it will be around for 10+ years. They can also easily bring in famous people when they need a boost.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
i have to agree with you anything goes about Book of Mormon ultimately making the top 10
I guess you are right Bwayconcierge that Jersey boys has to make it almost three years more on broadway to bump beauty and the beast,
I think it may make it...a pretty timeless show with broad appeal and probably makes good money even with a half full house....
wicked one of those shows i dont see closing so see it playing perenially like phantom and lion king
have not seen hamilton yet, so hard to gauge it....cetainly is the phenom this year and many on the board I respect have placed in their top five musicals ever..... acid test will be how it does after lin leaves and into kind of the year 3-4 phase once the buzz has cooled a bit
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
As an avid HAMILTON fan, I have to agree with ACL. I'll confidently guess without any hesitation that HAMILTON is not running in 10 years.
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