What is The Longest Running Broadway Show (2023)?
The longest-running show on Broadway is “The Phantom of the Opera” which opened on January 26th, 1988, and closed April 16, 2023. By the time the show set sail, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical operetta played 13, 981 performances on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre, giving a thrill to audiences worldwide. Though it missed the Tony Award for Best Musical, at 35 years old, the original production made New York theater history and easily became the most beloved Webber musical. The 2023 closing of "Phantom" immediately had Broadway gossip columns wondering what show would eventually pass the musical's record and become the NEW longest-running show in Broadway history.
Times Square Tourists lining up for Phantom in 2021.
From "Tobacco Road" to "Chorus Line", "Calcutta", and "Lion King" -- What is the Broadway History of Longest Running Shows?
Broadway shows come and go. Long ago, before the modern Broadway era, a run of a few years was considered substantial, with the longest runs belonging to straight plays like "Life with Father". The scandalous "Tobacco Road" had a Broadway run of eight seasons! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s longest-running Broadway musical, "Oklahoma", lasted for five years, which was practically unheard of. At the end of Broadway’s Golden Age, "Fiddler on the Roof" made it to a stunning ten. It wasn’t until the so-called British invasion of Broadway, starting with "Cats", that the truly long-running Broadway musical tradition started.
Fun Fact: The British Invasion Led to the Highest-Grossing Broadway Shows of All Time!
Things on Broadway were bumping along with one or two hit shows a season until a British producer named Cameron Mackintosh began what would turn out to be a ten-year cycle of mega-musicals which included "Les Misérables", "Miss Saigon", "Phantom", & "Cats". The producer's insight was that big musicals didn't just belong to the theatre districts of the West End and Broadway but, rather, to a worldwide market of theatre consumers. His marketing strategy led to longer runs with audiences flocking to see these well-publicized musicals. Click here for a great article from Broadway World!
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber haunts the New York Theater scene!
Andrew Lloyd Webber had already taken the Great White Way by storm with "Cats" & "Evita", but "Phantom" felt different; indeed, this particular show felt personal. Having fallen in love with the soprano Sarah Brightman, Sir Andrew seemed to have found his muse; the music poured out of him. Lyricists Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe provided the lyrics for the rock-inspired musical based on the famous novel by Gaston Leroux about an inscrutable and deformed composer's obsession with a talented young soprano at the Paris Opera House. The dazzling production featured the world-famous chandelier which crashed every night from the ceiling of the theatre to the stage deck below. Directed by Broadway legend Harold Prince with a spectacular set, costumes and special effects, the show was a stunner. It may have closed after 35 years, but rumblings of a revival are already being heard. For more, click here !
Longest Running Broadway Shows in Order After "The Phantom of the Opera"! (2023)
1. “Chicago” (Revival). The current revival of Chicago, which opened in 1996, is a smash having won the Tony for Best Revival. Ann Reinking recreated Bob Fosse's knock-kneed choreography enabling the show to grab six Tonys Including best revival. The constantly revolving list of guest Roxie Harts and Billy Flynns keep audiences coming back to hear the razzle-dazzle Kander and Ebb score. With the movie being released years before closing, the run extended past everyone's expectations! This show, playing at the Ambassador Theatre, is one of the two biggest contenders to replace "Phantom of the Opera" as the longest-running Broadway show!
2. “The Lion King”. With a gross of $8.2 billion worldwide, "The Lion King" is the highest-grossing show in history. With six Tony Awards, the inspired direction of Julie Taymor, and a score of earworms by Elton John, this show -- basically "Hamlet" with Lions -- is. quite simply, a Broadway legend.
3. “Cats”. Based on T.S. Eliot's book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", this unlikely was the first Broadway mega-musical and ultimately became a worldwide phenomenon. God only knows what this show is about, but no one cares -- the athletic dancing, the spectacular design, and the classic ballad "Memory" kept audiences coming. You don't need to speak a word of English to love it, which, in all honestly, had to have helped guarantee a run of 18 years. This show is easily the most surprising hit musical to date.
4. “Wicked". Stephen Schwartz had his longest running musical with this retelling of "The Wizard of Oz" from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. The story of the friendship of Elphaba and Glinda opened in 2003 making stars out of Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. The show might have not been a smash with the critics, but audiences adore it. Bring your daughter -- you won't be sorry!
5. “Les Misérables”. This musical based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same name is a phenomenon. The story of French peasant Jean Valjean and his journey from escaped convict to hero of the revolution continues to move audiences with is score of folk-influenced, tear-jerking ballads. The show closed and was revived in 2014, this time with Ramin Karimloo in the lead!
6. “A Chorus Line”. At 6,137 performances, "A Chorus Line" seemed like it would never close. Based on real-life stories collected by Michael Bennet from actual Broadway dancers, this classic musical about success, failure and what it takes to live your life doing what you love won 9 Tony Awards including best musical.
7. “Oh! Calcutta!” The original Broadway production of this scandalous musical revue about sex made it for a year and a half, but the revival topped out at almost 6000 performances. This massive hit at the Edison Theatre included sketches, songs, nudity, and dancing. The show’s frank depiction of sexuality hit with an audience, but critics were not amused. Still, it refused to close making it one of the longest running shows in Broadway history.
8. “Mama Mia"! Sooner or later a juke-box musical was bound to join the list of longest running Broadway shows. The infectious ABBA score alone guaranteed a built-in audience, but it was the delightful story about a wedding and the reunion of three old friends that sealed the deal -- with sequins. Mama Mia played its final performance after 5,558 disco-themed ovations.
”9. “Beauty and the Beast”. Disney Theatrical had its first big hit right out of the gate with this stage adaptation of the animated film with a splendid score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman & Tim Rice. The popular family attraction closed on Broadway on July 29th, 2007, after a spectacular run of 13 years.
10 “Rent”. Jonathan Larson’s spin on Puccini's most famous opera featured a rock and roll score and a cast of recognizable New York bohemians living and loving in Alphabet City. "Rent" won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1996.
BONUS SHOW CURRENTLY RUNNING IN AND IN A GOOD POSITION TO JOIN THE LIST OF LONGEST-RUNNING BROADWAY SHOWS:
"The Book of Mormon"
"The Book of Mormon". Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez wrote this notorious musical about two Mormon missionaries' trip to war-torn Uganda, how their faith is tested by the local villagers who are too distracted by the local warlord, AIDS, and famine to give them any attention. The score is pure pastiche, spoof, and a love letter to Broadway.
New York Theater Bonus Prediction: "The Lion King" and "Chicago" will eventually pass "The Phantom of the Opera" to become the longest-running Broadway shows.
My own little revue, "How Rude" probably won't run that long, but you never know; Broadway continues to offer surprises every season, and with a little luck, maybe your own creation will one day top the list of the longest-running Broadway show.
