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List of the longest-running Broadway shows

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bovineboy2008 (talk | contribs) at 15:33, 5 August 2021 (not a revival). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Phantom of the Opera has been running at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway since 1988.

This is a list of Broadway shows with 1,000 or more performances, sorted by number of performances. Nine shows currently running on Broadway (all musicals) have at least 1,000 performances: The Phantom of the Opera, the 1996 revival of Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Come from Away.

List

Unless otherwise noted, the run count listed is for the original Broadway production of the show. M denotes a musical, P denotes a straight play, R denotes revue, D denotes a dance show, and S denotes a special show or event. Totals current through March 11, 2020, after which all Broadway theaters suspended performances during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Shows in bold were running at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown.

# Title Type Opening
date
Closing
date
Performances Awards Additional information
1. The Phantom of the Opera M January 26, 1988 13,370[2]
  • Currently running at the Majestic Theatre (performances resuming October 22.)
  • Broadway's longest-running show and musical
2. Chicago (1996 revival) M November 14, 1996 9,692[3]
  • Currently running at the Ambassador Theatre (performances resuming September 14.)
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1975 (936 performances)
  • Broadway's longest-running revival
  • Longest running show to have premiered on Broadway
  • Broadway's longest running American show
3. The Lion King M November 13, 1997 9,302[4]
4. Cats M October 7, 1982 September 10, 2000 7,485[6]
  • Revival in 2016 (593 performances)
5. Wicked M October 30, 2003 6,836[7]
6. Les Misérables M March 12, 1987 May 18, 2003 6,680[9]
  • Revivals in 2006 (463 performances) and 2014 (1,024 performances)
7. A Chorus Line M July 25, 1975 April 28, 1990 6,137[10]
  • Revival in 2006 (759 performances)
8. Oh! Calcutta! (1976 revival) R September 24, 1976 August 6, 1989 5,959[11]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1969 (1,314 performances)
  • First revival to match its original for 1000+ performances
  • Broadway's longest-running revue
9. Mamma Mia! M October 18, 2001 September 12, 2015 5,758[12]
10. Beauty and the Beast M April 18, 1994 July 29, 2007 5,461[13]
11. Rent M April 29, 1996 September 7, 2008 5,123[14]
12. Jersey Boys M November 6, 2005 January 15, 2017 4,642[15]
13. Miss Saigon M April 11, 1991 January 28, 2001 4,092[16]
  • Revival in 2017 (340 performances)
14. The Book of Mormon M March 24, 2011 3,748[17]
15. 42nd Street M August 25, 1980 January 8, 1989 3,486[18]
  • Revival in 2001 (1,524 performances)
16. Grease M February 14, 1972 April 13, 1980 3,388[19]
  • Revivals in 1994 (1,505 performances) and 2007 (554 performances)
17. Fiddler on the Roof M September 22, 1964 July 2, 1972 3,242[20]
  • Revivals in 1976 (167 performances), 1981 (53 performances), 1990, (241 performances), 2004 (781 performances), and 2015 (431 performances)
18. Life With Father P November 8, 1939 July 12, 1947 3,224[21]
  • Broadway's longest-running straight play
19. Tobacco Road P December 4, 1933 May 31, 1941 3,182[22]
  • Revivals in 1942 (34 performances), 1943 (66 performances), and 1950 (7 performances)
20. Hello, Dolly! M January 16, 1964 December 27, 1970 2,844[23]
  • Revivals in 1975 (42 performances), 1978 (147 performances), 1995 (116 performances), and 2017 (550 performances)
21. My Fair Lady M March 15, 1956 September 29, 1962 2,717[24]
  • Revivals in 1976 (377 performances), 1981 (120 performances), 1993 (165 performances), and 2018 (509 performances)
22. Hairspray M August 15, 2002 January 4, 2009 2,642[25]
23. Mary Poppins M November 16, 2006 March 3, 2013 2,619[26]
24. Avenue Q M July 31, 2003 September 13, 2009 2,534[27]
25. Aladdin M March 20, 2014 2,506[28]
26. Kinky Boots M April 4, 2013 April 7, 2019 2,505[30]
27. The Producers M April 19, 2001 April 22, 2007 2,502[31]
  • Currently holds the record of Broadway production with the most Tony Award wins, winning 12.
28. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical M January 12, 2014 October 27, 2019 2,416[32]
29. Annie M April 21, 1977 January 2, 1983 2,377[33]
  • Revivals in 1997 (239 performances) and 2012 (487 performances)
Cabaret (1998 revival) M March 19, 1998 January 4, 2004 2,377[34]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1966 (1,165 performances) and revivals in 1987 (261 performances) and 2014 (388 performances)
31. Man of La Mancha M November 22, 1965 June 26, 1971 2,328[35]
  • Revivals in 1972 (140 performances), 1977 (124 performances), 1992 (108 performances), and 2002 (304 performances)
Rock of Ages M April 7, 2009 January 18, 2015 2,328[36]
33. Abie's Irish Rose P May 23, 1922 October 1, 1927 2,327[37]
  • Revivals in 1937 (46 performances) and 1954 (20 performances)
34. Oklahoma! M March 31, 1943 May 29, 1948 2,212[38]
  • Revivals in 1951 (100 performances), 1953 (40 performances), 1979 (293 performances), 2002 (388 performances), and 2019 (328 performances)
35. Smokey Joe's Cafe R March 2, 1995 January 16, 2000 2,036[39]
  • Broadway's longest running original music revue. The longest running musical revue, Oh! Calcutta!, was a revival.
36. Pippin M October 23, 1972 June 12, 1977 1,944[40]
  • Revival in 2013 (709 performances)
37. South Pacific M April 7, 1949 January 16, 1954 1,925[41]
  • Revivals in 1955 (15 performances) and 2008 (996 performances)
  • Held the record of Broadway production with the most Tony Award wins for 51 years with 10 wins, until it was surpassed by The Producers, which won 12.
38. The Magic Show M May 28, 1974 December 31, 1978 1,920[42]
39. Hamilton M August 6, 2015 1,919[43]
40. Aida M March 23, 2000 September 5, 2004 1,852[45]
41. Gemini P May 21, 1977 September 6, 1981 1,819[46]
42. Deathtrap P February 26, 1978 June 13, 1982 1,793[47]
43. Harvey P November 1, 1944 January 15, 1949 1,775[48]
  • Revival in 1970 (79 performances) and 2012 (62 performances)
44. Dancin' D March 27, 1978 June 27, 1982 1,774[49]
  • Broadway's longest-running dance musical
45. La Cage aux Folles M August 21, 1983 November 15, 1987 1,761[50]
  • Revivals in 2004 (229 performances) and 2010 (433 performances)
46. Hair M April 29, 1968 July 1, 1972 1,750[51]
  • Revivals in 1977 (43 performances), 2004 (1 benefit performance), 2009 (519 performances), and 2011 (67 performances)
47. The Wiz M January 5, 1975 January 28, 1979 1,672[52]
  • Revival in 1984 (13 performances)
48. Born Yesterday P February 4, 1946 December 31, 1949 1,642[53]
  • Revivals in 1989 (153 performances) and 2011 (73 performances)
49. Crazy for You M February 19, 1992 January 7, 1996 1,622[54]
50. Ain't Misbehavin' R May 9, 1978 February 21, 1982 1,604[55]
  • Revival in 1988 (176 performances)
51. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas M June 19, 1978 March 27, 1982 1,584[56]
  • Revivals in 1982 (63 performances) and 2006 (1 benefit performance)
52. Spamalot M March 17, 2005 January 11, 2009 1,575[57]
53. Mary, Mary P March 8, 1961 December 12, 1964 1,572[58]
54. Evita M September 25, 1979 June 26, 1983 1,567[59]
  • Revival in 2012 (337 performances)
55. The Voice of the Turtle P December 8, 1943 January 3, 1948 1,557[60]
56. Matilda the Musical M April 11, 2013 January 1, 2017 1,554[61]
57. Waitress M April 24, 2016 January 5, 2020 1,544[62]
  • Remounted in 2021
58. Jekyll & Hyde M April 28, 1997 January 7, 2001 1,543[63]
  • Revival in 2013 (30 performances)
59. Barefoot in the Park P October 23, 1963 June 25, 1967 1,530[64]
  • Revival in 2006 (109 performances)
60. 42nd Street (2001 revival) M May 2, 2001 January 2, 2005 1,524[65]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1980 (3,486 performances)
61. Dreamgirls M December 20, 1981 August 11, 1985 1,521[66]
  • Revivals in 1987 (177 performances) and 2001 (1 benefit performance)
62. Mame M May 24, 1966 January 3, 1970 1,508[67]
  • Revival in 1983 (41 performances)
63. Grease (1994 revival) M May 11, 1994 January 25, 1998 1,505[68]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1972 (3,388 performances) and revival in 2007 (554 performances)
64. Same Time, Next Year P March 14, 1975 September 3, 1978 1,453[69]
65. Arsenic and Old Lace P January 10, 1941 June 17, 1944 1,444[70]
  • Revival in 1986 (221 performances)
66. The Sound of Music M November 16, 1959 June 15, 1963 1,443[71]
  • Revival in 1998 (533 performances)
67. Me and My Girl M August 10, 1986 December 31, 1989 1,420[72]
68. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying M October 14, 1961 March 6, 1965 1,417[73]
  • Revivals in 1995 (548 performances) and 2011 (473 performances)
69. Hellzapoppin R September 22, 1938 December 17, 1941 1,404[74]
70. The Music Man M December 19, 1957 April 15, 1961 1,375[75]
  • Revivals in 1980 (21 performances), 2000 (699 performances), and 2022
71. Dear Evan Hansen M December 4, 2016 1,363[76]
72. Funny Girl M March 26, 1964 July 1, 1967 1,348[78]
  • Revival in 2002 (1 benefit performance)
73. Mummenschanz S March 30, 1977 April 20, 1980 1,326[79]
  • Broadway's longest-running special
74. Oh! Calcutta! R June 17, 1969 August 12, 1972 1,314[80]
  • Original production
  • Revival in 1976 (5,959 performances)
75. Billy Elliot the Musical M November 13, 2008 January 8, 2012 1,312[81]
76. School of Rock M December 6, 2015 January 20, 2019 1,309[82]
77. Movin' Out D October 24, 2002 December 11, 2005 1,303[83]
78. Brighton Beach Memoirs P March 27, 1983 May 11, 1986 1,299[84]
  • Revival in 2009 (9 performances)
79. Angel Street P December 5, 1941 December 30, 1944 1,295[85]
  • Revivals in 1948 (14 performances) and 1975 (52 performances)
80. Lightnin' P August 26, 1918 August 27, 1921 1,291[86]
  • First ever production with 1000+ performances
  • Revival in 1938 (54 performances)
81. Promises, Promises M December 1, 1968 January 1, 1972 1,281[87]
  • Revival in 2010 (289 performances)
82. Come from Away M March 12, 2017 1,251[88]
83. The King and I M March 29, 1951 March 20, 1954 1,246[90]
  • Revivals in 1977 (695 performances), 1985 (191 performances), 1996 (780 performances), and 2015 (499 performances)
84. Cactus Flower P December 8, 1965 November 23, 1968 1,234[91]
85. Sleuth P November 12, 1970 October 13, 1973 1,222[92]
Torch Song Trilogy P June 10, 1982 May 19, 1985 1,222[93]
  • Revival in 2018 (77 performances)
87. 1776 M March 16, 1969 February 13, 1972 1,217[94]
  • Revival in 1997 (333 performances)
88. Equus P October 24, 1974 October 2, 1977 1,209[95]
  • Revival in 2008 (156 performances)
89. Sugar Babies R October 8, 1979 August 28, 1982 1,208[96]
90. Guys and Dolls M November 24, 1950 November 28, 1953 1,200[97]
  • Revivals in 1955 (16 performances), 1965 (15 performances), 1976 (239 performances), 1992 (1,143 performances), and 2009 (121 performances)
91. In the Heights M March 9, 2008 January 9, 2011 1,184[98]
92. Amadeus P December 17, 1980 October 16, 1983 1,181[99] Revival in 1999 (173 performances)
93. Once M March 18, 2012 January 4, 2015 1,168[100]
94. Cabaret M November 20, 1966 September 6, 1969 1,165[101]
  • Revivals in 1987 (261 performances), 1998 (2,377 performances), and 2014 (388 performances)
Memphis M October 19, 2009 August 5, 2012 1,165[102]
96. Mister Roberts P February 18, 1948 January 6, 1951 1,157[103]
97. Annie Get Your Gun M May 16, 1946 February 12, 1949 1,147[104]
  • Revivals in 1966 (78 performances) and 1999 (1,045 performances)
  • Oldest 1000+ original to be joined by 1000+ revival
98. Guys and Dolls (1992 revival) M April 14, 1992 January 8, 1995 1,143[105]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1950 (1,200 performances) and revivals in 1955 (16 performances), 1965 (15 performances), 1976 (239 performances), and 2009 (121 performances)
99. The Seven Year Itch P November 20, 1952 August 13, 1955 1,141[106]
100. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee M May 2, 2005 January 20, 2008 1,136[107]
101. Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk D April 25, 1996 January 10, 1999 1,135[108]
102. Butterflies Are Free P October 21, 1969 July 2, 1972 1,128[109]
103. Pins and Needles R November 27, 1937 June 22, 1940 1,108[110]
104. Plaza Suite P February 14, 1968 October 3, 1970 1,097[111]
  • Revival in 2020
105. Fosse D January 14, 1999 August 25, 2001 1,093[112]
106. They're Playing Our Song M February 11, 1979 September 6, 1981 1,082[113]
107. Kiss Me, Kate M December 30, 1948 July 28, 1951 1,077[114]
  • Revivals in 1952 (8 performances), 1999 (881 performances), and 2019 (125 performances)
  • First show to win the Tony Award for Best Musical, among other Tony awards
108. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark M June 14, 2011 January 4, 2014 1,066[115]
  • Most expensive production in Broadway history
109. Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope R April 19, 1972 October 27, 1974 1,065[116]
110. The Pajama Game M May 13, 1954 November 24, 1956 1,063[117]
  • Revivals in 1973 (65 performances) and 2006 (129 performances)
111. Shenandoah M January 7, 1975 August 7, 1977 1,050[118]
  • Revival in 1989 (32 performances)
112. Annie Get Your Gun (1999 revival) M March 4, 1999 September 1, 2001 1,045[119]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1946 (1,147 performances) and revival in 1966 (78 performances)
113. The Teahouse of the August Moon P October 15, 1953 March 24, 1956 1,027[120]
114. Les Misérables (2014 revival) M March 23, 2014 September 4, 2016 1,024[121]
  • Revival
  • Original production in 1987 (6,680 performances) and revival in 2006 (463 performances)
115. Damn Yankees M May 5, 1955 October 12, 1957 1,019[122]
  • Revival in 1994 (533 performances)
116. Grand Hotel M November 12, 1989 April 25, 1992 1,017[123]
117. Contact D March 30, 2000 September 1, 2002 1,010[124]
118. Never Too Late P November 27, 1962 April 24, 1965 1,007[125]
119. Beatlemania M May 31, 1977 October 17, 1979 1,006[126]
120. Big River M April 25, 1985 September 20, 1987 1,005[127]
  • Revival in 2003 (67 performances)
121. Newsies M March 29, 2012 August 24, 2014 1,004[128]

Timeline of longest-running Broadway shows

This is a list of shows that have held the record for being the longest-running show (including straight plays and musicals) on Broadway since 1853. A few probable longest-running plays prior to 1853 are also listed.

Not included below is the 1976 revival of the revue Oh! Calcutta!, which briefly overtook A Chorus Line as the Broadway show which had played the most performances, even though A Chorus Line had opened more than a year earlier and was still playing. Oh! Calcutta! achieved this distinction by playing more than the standard eight performances per week.[129] A Chorus Line retook the record for most performances after Oh! Calcutta! closed.

The longest running off-Broadway musical to date is The Fantasticks, which starred Jerry Orbach. When it closed on January 13, 2002, it had run for 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical. The current longest-running musical on Broadway is The Phantom of the Opera, which opened in 1988 and played its 10,000th performance in 2012.[130]

M denotes a musical and P denotes a straight play.

Took lead Title Type Opening
date
Closing
date
Performances Comments/Notes
2006-01-09January 9, 2006[131] The Phantom of the Opera M 1988-01-26January 26, 1988 13,370[132]
1997-06-19June 19, 1997[133] Cats M 1982-10-07October 7, 1982 2000-09-09September 10, 2000 7,485[134]
1983-09-29September 29, 1983[135] A Chorus Line M 1975-07-25July 25, 1975 1990-04-28April 28, 1990 6,137[136]
1979-12-08December 8, 1979[137] Grease M 1972-02-14February 14, 1972 1980-04-13April 13, 1980 3,388[138]
  • 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1972
  • Revivals in 1994 (1,505 performances) and 2007 (554 performances)
1972-06-17June 17, 1972[139] Fiddler on the Roof M 1964-09-22September 22, 1964 1972-07-02July 2, 1972 3,242[140]
  • Became longest running musical in July 1971, at 2,845 performances passing 2,844 mark of Hello Dolly!.[141]
  • 9 Tony Awards in 1965, including Best Musical
  • A Special Tony Award in 1972 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical
  • Revivals in 1976 (167 performances), 1981 (53 performances), 1990, (241 performances), 2004 (781 performances), and 2015 (431 performances)
1947-06-14June 14, 1947[142] Life with Father P 1939-11-08November 8, 1939 1947-07-12July 12, 1947 3,224[143]
1939-06-01June 1939[144] Tobacco Road P 1933-12-04December 4, 1933 1941-05-31May 31, 1941 3,182[145]
  • Revivals in 1942 (34 performances), 1943 (66 performances), and 1950 (7 performances)
1925-05-23May 23, 1925[146] Abie's Irish Rose P 1923-05-23May 23, 1923 1927-10-1October 1, 1927 2,327[147]
  • Revivals in 1937 (46 performances) and 1954 (20 performances)
1920-03-17March 17, 1920[148][149][150] Lightnin' P 1918-08-26August 26, 1918 1921-08-27August 27, 1921 1,291[151]
  • Revival in 1938 (54 performances)
1893-06-22June 22, 1893[152] A Trip to Chinatown M 1891-11-09November 9, 1891 1893-08-07August 7, 1893 657[153]
1885-12-01December 1885[154] Adonis M 1884-09-04September 4, 1884 1886-04-17April 17, 1886 603[155]
1881-05-01May 1881 Hazel Kirke P 1880-02-04February 4, 1880 1881-05-31May 31, 1881 486[156][157]
  • 250th performance programme claimed play had exceeded number of consecutive performances of any "similar play" in the country on its 238th performance,[158] which is no doubt a reference to Pique (1875) which ran for 237 performances.[159]
1867-08-05August 5, 1867[160] The Black Crook M 1866-09-12September 12, 1866 1868-01-04January 4, 1868 474[161]
  • First Broadway show to run for over one year.[162] In terms of a "musical", The Seven Sisters (1860–61, 253 perf.), was probably the longest running show closest to a "musical" prior to this.[163]
1853-10-011853[164] Uncle Tom's Cabin (Aiken version) P 1853-08-23August 8, 1853 1854-05-13May 13, 1854 325[165]
1850-01-011850 The Drunkard P 1850-01-011850 1850-10-07October 7, 1850? 100[169]
1844-09-24September 24, 1844 Putnam, the Iron Son of '76 P 1844-08-05August 5, 1844 1844-11-02November 2, 1844 78[171][172]
  • At the Bowery Theatre. If Mazeppa ran 43 nights in 1833 and was previous record, Putnam became most performed on its 44th performance on September 24, 1844.
1833-08-091833 Mazeppa, Or, The Wild Horse of Ukraine P 1833-06-22July 22, 1833 1833-09-09September 9, 1833 43[173]
1831-01-281831 The Elephant of Siam and the Fire Fiend by Samuel Beazley P 1831-01-10January 10, 1831 1831? 18[176]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Paulson, Michael (March 12, 2020). "Broadway, Symbol of New York Resilience, Shuts Down Amid Virus Threat". The New York Times.
  2. ^ ​The Phantom of the Opera​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  3. ^ ​Chicago​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  4. ^ ​The Lion King​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  5. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/the-big-3-hamilton-wicked-the-lion-king-will-return-to-broadway-september-14
  6. ^ ​Cats​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  7. ^ ​Wicked​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  8. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/the-big-3-hamilton-wicked-the-lion-king-will-return-to-broadway-september-14
  9. ^ ​Les Misérables​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  10. ^ ​A Chorus Line​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  11. ^ ​Oh! Calcutta​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  12. ^ ​Mamma Mia!​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  13. ^ ​Beauty and the Beast​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  14. ^ ​Rent​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  15. ^ ​Jersey Boys​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  16. ^ ​Miss Saigon​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  17. ^ ​The Book of Mormon​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  18. ^ ​42nd Street​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  19. ^ ​Grease​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  20. ^ ​Fiddler on the Roof​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  21. ^ ​Life with Father​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  22. ^ ​Tobacco Road​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  23. ^ ​Hello, Dolly!​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  24. ^ ​My Fair Lady​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  25. ^ ​Hairspray​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  26. ^ ​Mary Poppins​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  27. ^ ​Avenue Q​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  28. ^ ​Aladdin​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  29. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/disneys-aladdin-sets-broadway-reopening
  30. ^ ​Kinky Boots​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  31. ^ ​The Producers​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  32. ^ ​Beautiful The Carole King Musical​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  33. ^ ​Annie​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  34. ^ ​Cabaret​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  35. ^ ​Man of La Mancha​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  36. ^ ​Rock of Ages​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  37. ^ ​Abie's Irish Rose​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  38. ^ ​Oklahoma!​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  39. ^ ​Smokey Joe's Cafe​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  40. ^ ​Pippin​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  41. ^ ​South Pacific​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  42. ^ ​The Magic Show​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  43. ^ ​Hamilton​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  44. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/the-big-3-hamilton-wicked-the-lion-king-will-return-to-broadway-september-14
  45. ^ ​Aida​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  46. ^ ​Gemini​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  47. ^ ​Deathtrap​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  48. ^ ​Harvey​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  49. ^ ​Dancin'​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  50. ^ ​La Cage aux Folles​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  51. ^ ​Hair​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  52. ^ ​The Wiz​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  53. ^ ​Born Yesterday​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  54. ^ ​Crazy for You​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  55. ^ ​Ain't Misbehavin'​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  56. ^ ​The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  57. ^ ​Spamalot​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  58. ^ ​Mary, Mary​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  59. ^ ​Evita​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  60. ^ ​The Voice of the Turtle​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  61. ^ ​Matilda The Musical​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  62. ^ ​Waitress​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  63. ^ ​Jekyll & Hyde​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  64. ^ ​Barefoot in the Park​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  65. ^ ​42nd Street​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  66. ^ ​Dreamgirls​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  67. ^ ​Mame​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  68. ^ ​Grease​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  69. ^ ​Same Time, Next Year​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  70. ^ ​Arsenic and Old Lace​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  71. ^ ​The Sound of Music​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  72. ^ ​Me and My Girl​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  73. ^ ​How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  74. ^ ​Hellzapoppin'​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  75. ^ ​The Music Man​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  76. ^ ​Dear Evan Hansen​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  77. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/dear-evan-hansen-sets-reopening-date-at-broadways-music-box-theatre
  78. ^ ​Funny Girl​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  79. ^ ​Mummenschanz​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  80. ^ ​Oh! Calcutta!​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  81. ^ ​Billy Elliot the Musical​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  82. ^ ​School of Rock – The Musical​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  83. ^ ​Movin' Out​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  84. ^ ​Brighton Beach Memoirs​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  85. ^ ​Angel Street​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  86. ^ ​Lightnin'​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  87. ^ ​Promises, Promises​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  88. ^ ​Come From Away​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  89. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/come-from-away-to-reopen-on-broadway-in-september
  90. ^ ​The King and I​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  91. ^ ​Cactus Flower​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  92. ^ ​Sleuth​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  93. ^ ​Torch Song Trilogy​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  94. ^ ​1776​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  95. ^ ​Equus​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  96. ^ ​Sugar Babies​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  97. ^ ​Guys and Dolls​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  98. ^ ​In the Heights​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  99. ^ ​Amadeus​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  100. ^ ​Once​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  101. ^ ​Cabaret​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  102. ^ ​Memphis​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  103. ^ ​Mister Roberts​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  104. ^ ​Annie Get Your Gun​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  105. ^ ​Guys and Dolls​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  106. ^ ​The Seven Year Itch​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  107. ^ ​The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  108. ^ ​Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  109. ^ ​Butterflies Are Free​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  110. ^ ​Pins and Needles​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  111. ^ ​Plaza Suite​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  112. ^ ​Fosse​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  113. ^ ​They're Playing Our Song​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  114. ^ ​Kiss Me, Kate​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  115. ^ ​Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  116. ^ ​Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  117. ^ ​The Pajama Game​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  118. ^ ​Shenandoah​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  119. ^ ​Annie Get Your Gun​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  120. ^ ​The Teahouse of the August Moon​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  121. ^ ​Les Misérables​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  122. ^ ​Damn Yankees​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  123. ^ ​Grand Hotel​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  124. ^ ​Contact​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  125. ^ ​Never Too Late​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  126. ^ ​Beatlemania​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  127. ^ ​Big River​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  128. ^ ​Newsies The Musical​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  129. ^ Rich, Frank (August 8, 1989). "Critic's Notebook; The Asterisks of 'Oh! Calcutta!'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  130. ^ "The World’s Longest-Running Musical Started Small – and Stayed Small", Time magazine
  131. ^ (January 6, 2006). ‘Phantom’ set to outlive ‘Cats’, Associated Press
  132. ^ ​The Phantom of the Opera​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  133. ^ (June 19, 1997). With 6,138 Lives, 'Cats' Sets Broadway Mark, The New York Times
  134. ^ ​Cats​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  135. ^ rothstein, Mervyn (April 30, 1990). After 15 Years (15!), 'A Chorus Line' Ends, The New York Times
  136. ^ ​A Chorus Line​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  137. ^ (December 8, 1979). 'Grease' hits top of Broadway list, Associated Press
  138. ^ ​Grease​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  139. ^ (June 19, 1972). Fiddler on the Roof longest running show, Ottawa Citizen (Associated Press)
  140. ^ ​Fiddler on the Roof​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  141. ^ (July 21, 1971). 'Fiddler on the Roof' longest run musical on Broadway, Associated Press
  142. ^ (June 13, 1947). 'Life With Father' - A Broadway Record, The Milwaukee Journal
  143. ^ ​Life with Father​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  144. ^ (November 18, 1939). If Any Record Is Left, Play Breaks It Tonight, Milwaukee Journal (reporting that on November 18, 1939, Tobacco Road had 2,533rd performance, beating 2,532 mark that was being used as record for Abie's Irish Rose, though it had been discovered that number included over 200 non-Broadway performances, so that record had been made 5 months prior)
  145. ^ ​Tobacco Road​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  146. ^ (May 24, 1925). 'Abie's Irish Rose' Makes Record Run. Its 1,292d Performance, One More Than "Lightnin'," Is America's Highest Score, The New York Times
  147. ^ ​Abie's Irish Rose​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  148. ^ (March 18, 1920). Lightnin' Breaks Record. Reaches 658th Performance, Eclipsing Long Run of Hoyt Farce, The New York Times
  149. ^ (May 1920). [1], Munsey's Magazine, p. 730 (" 'Lightnin' has now broken the record of 'A Trip to Chinatown' for the longest consecutive New York run ...")
  150. ^ Theatre Week (1990) (noting that at start of World War I, A Trip To Chinatown still held the record, which was beat by Lightnin after the war)
  151. ^ ​Lightnin'​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  152. ^ (July 1893). The Stage, Munsey's Magazine (reporting that A Trip to Chinatown had 604th performance on June 22, 1893)
  153. ^ ​A Trip to Chinatown​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  154. ^ (November 22, 1885). The Stage and Box Office, The New York Times (reporting that with 35 more performances, Adonis will bypass Hazel Kirke run of 486 performances)
  155. ^ ​Adonis​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  156. ^ ​Hazel Kirke​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  157. ^ The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, p. 298 (Hazel Kirke at 486 performances was longest run of its time of any nonmusical play)
  158. ^ Hazel Kirke: 250th performance programme (1880)
  159. ^ The Cambridge History of American Theatre, Vol. II, p. 239 (1999)
  160. ^ (August 5, 1867). Black Crook advertisement, New York Tribune, p. 7 col. 3 (advertisement for 326th performance of The Black Crook on August 5, 1867; no recognition at this time that it was likely the longest)
  161. ^ ​The Black Crook​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  162. ^ Steyn, Mark. Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now, p. 3 (1997)
  163. ^ Allen, Robert C. (c. 1991). Horrible prettiness: burlesque and American culture. University of North Carolina. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-8078-1960-9.
  164. ^ Uncle Tom's Cabin, New York Dramatic Mirror (December 1905)
  165. ^ Some Long Theatrical Runs, The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1903, p. 269 (1902)
  166. ^ (November 17, 1853). Uncle Tom's Cabin, The New York Times (notes that 116 performances had been held to that point)
  167. ^ (February 23, 1854). Uncle Tom's Cabin, The New York Times (reported that 230th performance would be that evening)
  168. ^ (June 19, 1854). Uncle Tom's Cabin (advertisement), The New York Times (announcing revival of play "as performed at the National Theatre 325 consecutive times")
  169. ^ The Drunkard as a Drama of the Temperance Movement, p. 3 (1995)
  170. ^ Culture, Genre, and Literary Vocation: Selected Essays on American Literature, p. 108 (2001)
  171. ^ The Cambridge Guide To Theatre, p. 76 (1995)
  172. ^ Ireland, Joseph, Records of the New York stage, from 1750 to 1860, pp. 417, 438
  173. ^ Granqvist, Raoul. Imitation as Resistance: Appropriations of English Literature in Nineteenth-Century America, p. 170 (stating that Mazeppa ran at the Bowery Theatre for 48 consecutive nights)
  174. ^ (August 31, 1833). Amusements, New York Evening Post, p. 3, col. 5 (advertisement stating that evening will be 35th presentation of Mazeppa)
  175. ^ (September 9, 1833). Amusements, p. 3, col. 5 (announcing that Mazeppa will be performed that night "For the Benefit of Mr. Gale", appears to have been final consecutive performance)
  176. ^ a b c Shank, Theodore J. (1959). "Theatre for the Majority: Its Influence on a Nineteenth Century American Theatre". Educational Theatre Journal. 11 (3): 188–199. doi:10.2307/3204801. JSTOR 3204801. See p. 196, noting that Mazeppa had 43 performances; Elephant of Siam and the Water Witch in 1831 had 18 each.

Further reading

  • Laufe, Abe. Anatomy of a Hit: Long-Run Plays on Broadway from 1900 to the Present Day. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1966.
  • Schildcrout, Jordan. In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays. New York and London: Routledge, 2019.
  • Sheward, David. It's a Hit!: The Back Stage Book of Longest-Running Broadway Shows, 1884 to the Present. New York: Back Stage Books, 1994