longest time in one show?
longest time in one show?
italianpride888
Stand-by Joined: 12/27/07
#1longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:12pmWhich actor has been in a single show the longest consecutive time? I know Justin Johnson did RENT for almost 8 years straight. Anyone else besides him?
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:14pmMarian Seldes did DEATHTRAP for roughly 1500 performances; Yul Brenner did KING AND I for a long time; Topol is still touring at 150 years young in FIDDLER.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#2re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:20pmThere's a guy in The Phantom of the Opera that's been there since it opened 20+ years ago.
boonanas
Featured Actor Joined: 9/25/08
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#4re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:26pm
From playbill.com.........
"For 3095 of those performances in a row, one person would be sure to be found at the theatre — A Perfect Crime's star and general manager Catherine Russell, who has spent half of her life since 21 in the show. Crime's mainstay from the April 18, 1987 opening onward, Russell has missed only four performances in 15 years, both times to serve in her siblings' weddings. Her record swamps the closest contender, Marian Seldes, who, in Deathtrap, another thriller, logged 1,809 consecutive shows on Broadway."
#5re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:27pm
Marlena Danielle was an original member in Cats until the day it closed.
Todd Michel Smith has been and still is in Hairspray from day one.
#6re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:31pm
The guy from Phantom is George Lee Andrews. Crazy.
I may only know that because of the [title of show] show. Not sure if that's something I should've admitted to...
Little-Lotte
Leading Actor Joined: 4/27/06
#7re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:32pmDefyGravity - That would be George Lee Andrews. I do think he's taken some breaks to do other things but it wasn't permanent leave from what I know, just to do maybe some concerts or something, so he might hold the record, I'm not sure.
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#9re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:38pmThank you :) I couldn't remember his name.
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#10re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:44pm
George Lee Andrews has been with a show longer than anyone else. he was originally an ensemble member who eventually became Firmin. About a decade ago, he swapped Firmin for Andre with then costar Jeff Keller, who was with the show up until 2005.
Actually, a great many of the actors in Phantom of the Opera stay with it for more than 3 or 4 years.
Bill Naber was with Beauty and the Beast all 13 of its years.
#11re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 3:55pm
My partner's cousin was Clarinet 2 in the BEAUTY pit for the entire run. Does that count? 
#12re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:05pmDevotees will remember George as Frid in NIGHT MUSIC as well...
#13re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:08pmIsn't there someone in The Mousetrap who has been in the show for a brazillion years....??? (The one in London) David Raven for his 4,500+ performances and for the longest understudy.... 15 years (6,200 +) for Nancy Seabrooke.
#14re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:11pmGeorge Lee Andrews was also in the telecast of A Little Night Music as Fredrik opposite Sally Ann Howes...that was two years into the run of POTO, so he took a leave then.
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#15re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:34pmMaybe not straight through but MANY RENT cast members have been in and out of the show since 1998. Shaun Earl, Owen Johnston, Luther Creek and Karmine Alers. Mayumi Ando was with the show for quite some time as well.
#16re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:45pmMarilyn Caskey was Madame Giry in Phantom for years and years. I'm just sayin'.
hpeabody930
Featured Actor Joined: 9/8/08
#17re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:52pmDavid hibbard has something like 2,300 performances as Rum-Tum-Tugger in CATS.
BrickPollitt
Swing Joined: 9/25/08
#18re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 4:58pmThere is only one correct answer, though. The answer is Catherine Russell of Perfect Crime. According to their website she has played 8,742 performances out of the show's 8,746 total performances. Blows everyone else out of the water.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#19re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 5:22pmTo make more of an impact here... original Broadway cast member of CATS, Marlene Danielle was with the show its entire run -- from 1982 till it closed in 2000... 18 years
yankees1253
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/07
#20re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 6:04pmTshidi Manye as rafiki in the lion king almost 11 years.
xOnMyOwnX
Stand-by Joined: 1/22/08
#21re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 8:02pmWasn't there someone else in the Lion King whose been there since the beginning?
#22re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 8:04pmThe longest i ever stayed with a show was 2 years, and even then i wanted to kill myself...i don't how they do it
#23re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 8:17pm
Marlene Danielle started out as an understudy only in "Cats." She was in the OBC, but not in a permanent role.
You can see her on the Tony Awards telecast as Demeter, subbing for Wendy Edmead.
She took over for Donna King as Bombalurina. Donna was one of the first (if not THE first) OBC member to leave the show.
Marlene ended up playing Bombalurina forever!
(or is that "now and forever?")
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#24re: longest time in one show?
Posted: 9/25/08 at 8:21pm
Bill Nabel was with Beauty and the Beast from
workshops to the final performance (Ensemble, u/s Lumiere, u/s Cogsworth, u/s Maurice, u/s Monsieur D'Arque)
I think he wins.
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