- Long-running musical theatre productions
This is a selected list of long-running
musical theatre productions divided into two sections. The first section lists all Broadway or West End productions exceeding 2,500 performances. The second section lists other musicals that have historical long run records.:
m = music, l = lyrics, b = book::(Noteworthy trivia appear in parentheses)::(5,678) = number of performances (in original Broadway production if not specified) ::> denotes shows that are still in production. The number of Broadway performances are updated as ofSeptember 4 ,2008 . The number of West End performances are updated sporadically as information becomes available.::"Tony Award winner" denotes winner of Tony for Best Musical::"Olivier Award winner" denotes winner of award for Best New MusicalLongest running musicals on Broadway and the West End
The following is a list of musical theatre productions in Broadway or West End theatres that have exceeded 2,500 performances.
# "Les Misérables", 1987 on Broadway, 1985 in London, 1980 in Paris, m
Claude-Michel Schönberg , lbAlain Boublil (English lyrics byHerbert Kretzmer ; through composed) (Based on the novel byVictor Hugo ) (>9,500 in London (the longest-running West End musical in history); 6,680 on Broadway) (1987 Tony Award winner; nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won eight)
# "The Phantom of the Opera", 1988 on Broadway 1986 in London, mAndrew Lloyd Webber , l Charles Hart, b Lloyd Webber andRichard Stilgoe (Based on the novel byGaston Leroux ) (>8,563 on Broadway (the longest-running Broadway musical in history); >9,000 in London) (1988 Tony Award winner)
# "Cats", 1981, mAndrew Lloyd Webber , lT. S. Eliot , b Lloyd Webber andTrevor Nunn ("Memory") (Based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats ") (8,300 in London (some references say 8,949); 7,485 on Broadway) (1983 Tony Award winner)
# "Blood Brothers", 1983, mlbWilly Russell (>8,000 in London, 1988 revival; 839 on Broadway) (1983 Olivier Award winner; nominated for seven Tonys)
# "Starlight Express ", 1984 in London, 1988 in Bochum, Germany, mAndrew Lloyd Webber , lRichard Stilgoe (with later revisions byDon Black andDavid Yazbek ; through composedrock opera ; innovative choreography entirely on skates) (7,406 in London; >more? in Germany)
# "Black and White Minstrels", 1960, mlbGeorge Mitchell (musician) (shockingly, this minstrel show (a revue) was inThe Guinness Book of Records as the stage show seen by the largest number of people and had international fame) (6,477 in London, the longest-running work of musical theatre (other than "The Fantasticks"), until beaten by "Les Misérables")
# "A Chorus Line ", 1975, mMarvin Hamlisch , lEdward Kleban , bJames Kirkwood, Jr. andNicholas Dante (6,137, the longest-running Broadway musical in history, until beaten by "Cats") (1976 Tony Award winner)
# "Oh! Calcutta! ", mPeter Schickele (aka “PDQ Bach”), Robert Dennis and Stanley Walden, lb various (1976 Revival, 5,959; 2,305 in London's 1969 production) (nude revue)
# "Beauty and the Beast", 1994, (Based on the 1991 Disney film), mAlan Menken , lHoward Ashman andTim Rice , bLinda Woolverton (5,464) (1998 Olivier Award winner)
# ', 1995, mlBuddy Holly , b"' Alan Janes (5,140 in London)
#"Rent", 1996, (Based upon Puccini's opera "La Bohème "), mlbJonathan Larson (5,123 on Broadway) ("Pulitzer Prize" Winner, 1996 Tony Award winner)
# "Chicago", (1996 Revival), (Based on the play byMaurine Dallas Watkins ), mJohn Kander , lFred Ebb , bBob Fosse andFred Ebb (>4,896 on Broadway; >3,444 in London) (longest-running revival in Broadway history, not counting "Oh! Calcutta")(2002 film adaptation wonAcademy Award for Best Picture)
# "The Lion King", 1997, (Based on the 1994 Disney film) mElton John , lTim Rice , bRoger Allers andIrene Mecchi (>4,481) (1998 Tony Award winner)
# "Miss Saigon ", 1989, (An adaptation of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly "), mClaude-Michel Schönberg , lAlain Boublil andRichard Maltby, Jr. ,bAlain Boublil (4,264 on the West End; 4,092 on Broadway)
# "42nd Street", 1980, (Loosely based on popular 1933 film of the same name) mHarry Warren , lAl Dubin , b Michael Stewart andMark Bramble (3,486) (1981 Tony Award winner; 1984 Olivier Award winner)
# "Grease", 1972, mlbJim Jacobs andWarren Casey (3,388, the longest-running Broadway musical in history, until beaten by "A Chorus Line")(1978 film became a popular movie musical)
# "Jesus Christ Superstar ", 1971 Broadway, 1972 London, mAndrew Lloyd Webber , lbTim Rice (3,358 in London; 720 on Broadway) (seminalrock opera and briefly the longest-running musical in history (not counting "Black and White Minstrels" or "The Fantasticks"), until beaten by "Grease")
# "Me and My Girl " (1985 revival), 3,303, mNoel Gay , lbDouglas Furber andL. Arthur Rose (originally ran 1,646 performances in 1937, which was unusual at the time) (1985 Olivier Award winner) (In 1937, withWorld War II impending, "The Times" famously used its hit song in a headline: "While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances - to 'The Lambeth Walk'.")
# "Fiddler on the Roof ", 1964, (Based on "Tevye and his Daughters" bySholom Aleichem ), mJerry Bock , lSheldon Harnick , bJoseph Stein ("If I Were a Rich Man") (3,242, the longest-running Broadway musical in history, until beaten by "Grease") (1965 Tony Award winner)
# "Rocky Horror Show ", 1973, mlbRichard O'Brien (2,958 in London) (the much revived show became a cult classic, especially outside the U.S.)
# "Evita", 1978, mAndrew Lloyd Webber , lTim Rice (based on the life ofEva Perón , combined innovative styles of music in the musical format and was the last collaboration between Lloyd Webber and Rice on a musical; began as a concept album in 1976) (2,900 in London; 1,567 on Broadway) (1978 Oliver Award winner; 1980 Tony Award winner)
# "Mamma Mia! ", 2001, mlBjörn Ulvaeus andBenny Andersson , bCatherine Johnson (Based on the music ofABBA )(Approximately >3450 in London, >2845 on Broadway)
# "Hello, Dolly!", 1964, mlJerry Herman , bMichael Stewart (2,844, the second-longest running Broadway musical in history until "Grease" pushed it down a rank) (1964 Tony Award winner; won 10 Tonys)
# "My Fair Lady ", 1956, (Based on G.B. Shaw's "Pygmalion"), mFrederick Loewe , lbAlan Jay Lerner ("I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live") (2,717, the longest-running musical in history, until beaten by "The Fantasticks" off-Broadway and "Fiddler on the Roof" on Broadway) (1957 Tony Award winner)(1964 film became one of the most popular movie musicals)
# "Oliver! ", 1960, mlbLionel Bart ("Where is Love?") (based on "Oliver Twist ") (2,618 in London, 774 on Broadway)
# "Hairspray", 2002, mMarc Shaiman , l Shaiman andScott Wittman , bMark O'Donnell andThomas Meehan (>2503 on Broadway) (2003 Tony Award Winner, nominated for 13, won 8) (2008 Olivier Award Winner, nominated for 11, won 4) (based on 1988 John Waters film of the same name)
# "The Producers", 2001, (Based on 1968 film), mlMel Brooks , b Brooks andThomas Meehan (2,502) (2001 Tony Award winner; won a record-breaking 12Tony Awards ) (first a movie about a musical, then a musical about a musical)Other notable long runs
The following is an annotated alphabetical list of other musicals that have set records for long runs.
*"
A Chinese Honeymoon ", 1901, mHoward Talbot andIvan Caryll , lHarry Greenbank , and lb George Dance (1,075) (The first musical to run for more than 1,000 performances)
*"Annie Get Your Gun", 1946, mlIrving Berlin , b Herbert andDorothy Fields (1,147: 1,304 in London - the longest-running musical of the 1930s) (Berlin wrote the songs whenJerome Kern died suddenly)
*"The Belle of New York " 1898, mGustave Kerker , lb Hugh Morton (697 in London) (After New York run, transferred to London in 1898, where it ran for an almost unprecedented 697 performances and became the first American musical to run for over a year in London.
*"The Boy Friend ", 1954, mlbSandy Wilson (2,078 in London; briefly the third-longest running musical in history, after "Chu Chin Chow" and "Oklahoma!", until demoted by "Salad Days") (Julie Andrews ' American debut)
*"Carousel" (based on the play "Liliom "), 1945, mRichard Rodgers , bOscar Hammerstein II (899) (the authors' favorite of their musicals) (one of the longest-running Broadway shows up to that time)
*"The Chimes of Normandy " (adapted from the French "Les Cloches de Corneville"), 1878, mRobert Planquette , lbH. B. Farnie and R. Reece (705) (the longest-running piece of musical theatre in history until "Dorothy" broke its record in 1886)
*"Chu Chin Chow ", 1916, mFrederic Norton , bOscar Asche (2,238 in London) (longest running musical in history from 1916 until "Salad Days " in 1954, and one of theWorld War I smash hits that defined the music of the era. See also "The Maid of the Mountains ").
*"Dorothy", 1886, mAlfred Cellier , lbB. C. Stephenson (931) (one of the first "modern" musicals, and the longest running piece of musical theatre in history until "A Chinese Honeymoon " in 1901.
*"The Fantasticks ", 1960, mHarvey Schmidt , l Tom Jones (17,162) Longest running musical in history.
*"Florodora ", 1899, mLeslie Stuart and Paul Rubens, l Edward Boyd-Jones and Rubens, bOwen Hall (552) (second-longest running Broadway musical (after "A Trip to Chinatown") until "Irene" in 1919 pushed it down to third; it was first very successful in London (455 performances) and achieved international success in Europe and elsewhere, including Broadway in 1900. It was the first instance of a British production achieving such a long initial Broadway run.)
*"Forbidden Broadway ", 1982, m arranged in part and written in part byGerard Alessandrini , lbGerard Alessandrini (2,332) (off-broadway spoof of current musicals has been running since 1982 in one incarnation or another)
*"The Geisha ", 1896, mSidney Jones andLionel Monckton , lHarry Greenbank , bOwen Hall (760 in London) (The second-longest running piece of musical theatre (after "Dorothy") until it was edged out by "San Toy " in 1899. It was one of a series of highly successful musicals atDaly's Theatre in London.)
*"Hellzapoppin" (revue), 1938, mlSammy Fain andCharles Tobias , b John "Ole" Olsen and Harold "Chic" Johnson (1,404, the longest-running Broadway musical, until beaten by "Oklahoma!" Its opening scene wasHitler speaking in aYiddish accent, and it included audience participation.)
*"H.M.S. Pinafore ", 1878, mArthur Sullivan , lbW. S. Gilbert (571 in London) (first G&S smash hit and second-longest running piece of musical theatre in history until it was edged out byGilbert and Sullivan 's "Patience" in 1881. One of the most frequently produced pieces of musical theatre in the world)
*"Irene", 1919, mHarry Tierney , lJoseph McCarthy (lyricist) , bJames Montgomery (670) (longest running Broadway show up to that time (though London had already had many longer-running shows [http://www.dgillan.screaming.net/stage/th-longr.html] ) until "Hellzapoppin" in 1938)
*"Little Shop of Horrors", 1982, mAlan Menken , lbHoward Ashman (2,209) (Based on the 1960 film, this award-winning show was the third-longest running musical and the highest-grossing production in off-Broadway history. Part of the late 20th century trend towards innovative productions that opened off-Broadway, the show was revived successfully on Broadway)
*"The Maid of the Mountains ", 1917, mHarold Fraser-Simson , lHarry Graham , bFrederick Lonsdale ((1,352 in London) (second-longest running musical (see "Chu Chin Chow ") and one of theWorld War I smash hits that defined the music of the era)
*"The Mikado ", 1885, mArthur Sullivan , lbW. S. Gilbert (672 in London) (longest-running G&S piece and second-longest running piece of musical theatre in history until "Dorothy" in 1886. Probably the most frequently produced piece of musical theatre in the world)
*"No, No Nanette ", 1925, mVincent Youmans , lIrving Caesar , lbOtto Harbach , bFrank Mandel (665 London; 321 Broadway, one of the longest-running interwar shows with international success)
*"Oklahoma! ", 1943, (Based on "Green Grow the Lilacs"), mRichard Rodgers , lbOscar Hammerstein II , (2,212, the longest-running Broadway show in history, until "My Fair Lady")
*"Salad Days ", 1954, mlbJulian Slade , lDorothy Reynolds (2,329 in London, finally breaking the long-held record of "Chu Chin Chow" for longest-running musical. It held the record until "My Fair Lady")
*"San Toy ", 1899, mSidney Jones , lHarry Greenbank andAdrian Ross , bEdward Morton (768 in London) (It edged out "The Geisha " as the second-longest running piece of musical theatre (after "Dorothy") and held that record until it was thrashed by "A Chinese Honeymoon " in 1901. It was one of a series of highly successful musicals atDaly's Theatre in London.)
*"The Shop Girl ", 1894, mIvan Caryll andLionel Monckton , lAdrian Ross , lb H. J. W. Dam (546 in London) (one of the first of the innovativeGaiety Theatre, London musicals produced byGeorge Edwardes in the 1890s)
*"The Sound of Music ", 1959 on Broadway, 1961 in London, mRichard Rodgers , lOscar Hammerstein II , bHoward Lindsay andRussell Crouse (2,385 in London; 1,442 on Broadway) (1960 Tony Award winner)(1965 film became one of the most popular movie musicals)
*"South Pacific", 1949, (Based onJames A. Michener 's "Tales of the South Pacific "), mRichard Rodgers , lbOscar Hammerstein II , bJoshua Logan (1,925, the second longest-running Broadway musical up to that time) (1950 Tony Award winner)
*"The Threepenny Opera " (based on "The Beggar's Opera "), 1954, mKurt Weill lbMarc Blitzstein (from the German ofBertolt Brecht ) (2,707, the longest-running off-Broadway musical until "The Fantasticks")
*"A Trip to Chinatown ", 1891, mPercy Gaunt , lbCharles Hoyt (657) (first Broadway musical to exceed 500 performances, although London had already had a few longer-running musical theatre pieces. It held the Broadway record until "Irene in 1919)ee also
*
Broadway theatre
*West End theatre
*Off-Broadway
*Lists of musicals
*List of the 100 Longest-Running Broadway shows
*Musical theatre
*AFI's 100 Years of Musicals
*List of Tony Award and Olivier Award winning musicals References
* [http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html Longest running plays on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Toronto, Melbourne, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin] retrieved Sept. 3, 2006
* [http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/75222.html List of longest running Broadway productions from Playbill.com]
* [http://www.dgillan.screaming.net/stage/th-longr.html List of longest running plays in London and New York, 1875 to 1920]External links
*Ganzl, Kurt. "The Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre" (3 Volumes). New York: Schirmer Books, 2001.
* [http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/ The Broadway Musical Home]
* [http://www.musicals101.com/ The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre, TV and Film]
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