Broadway Shows That Ran For A Crazy Amount Of Time
When it comes to the things that entertain us, we could turn to movies on Netflix or shows on Hulu or whatever is out there, but I've always loved Broadway shows and musicals.
Believe it or not, some productions have been on that stage for a crazy amount of time, whether it was five years or twenty-plus years. So, if you're curious about Broadway plays or musicals that have been on the stage for an intense amount of time, here are the ones that might surprise you.
The Phantom of the Opera is hands down one of the most impressive musicals of all time and features some of the best vocals out there. The original cast of both the West End and Broadway productions included Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine Daaé. Years later, a film production starring Emmy Rossum from the Shameless cast came out in 2004. The production ran on Broadway for 35 years.
Chicago first premiered in 1975, but the Broadway revival that came out in 1996 starring Anne Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth as Roxie and Velma has ran for several years. The production even received a 2002 film adaptation that was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
While The Lion King is one of the best Disney Renaissance films, the musical that came from it is one of the best Broadway shows. It first debuted in 1997 and has ran for several years. The original cast included John Vickery as Scar, Samuel E. Wright as Mufasa, Jason Raize as Simba, and more.
Before the film version of Grease happened, the musical arrived in 1972 and ran for an impressive eight years on Broadway. The original production had cast members such as Barry Bostwick as Danny and Carole Demas as Sandy. There was a 1994 revival, but it wasn't nearly as successful as the first run.
Rent was an iconic musical written by Jonathan Larson. It featured some of the best Broadway talent to date, detailing the story of young artists living in Manhattan's East Village during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The original Broadway production included Anthony Rapp as Mark Cohen, Adam Pascal as Roger Davis, Idina Menzel as Maureen Johnson, and more, several of whom reprised their roles in the film adaptation.
Life with Father was an older play in the earlier days of Broadway about Clarence Day, a father (written by Clarence Day, himself). The show is the longest-running Broadway non-musical and ran for eight years. The original production starred Howard Lindsay as Father, Dorothy Stickney as Vinnie Day, Teresa Wright as Mary Skinner, and more.
Tobacco Road is a play from Broadway in the 1930s based on the novel of the same name's novel and is the second-longest-running non-musical on Broadway. The play details the life of Tobacco farmers suffering from poverty. The original cast comprised Henry Hull, Margaret Wycherly, Maude Odell, and Dean Jagger.
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Cats, a sung-through musical that received a film adaptation in 2019 that was less than stellar, but the production itself is fantastic. It follows the story of cats who look to be picked as the "Jellicle choice" to receive a new life. The musical ran for eighteen years. The original production included Donna King as Bombalurina, Ken Ard as Macavity, Betty Buckley as Grizabella, and more.
Hello, Dolly! follows the story of a matchmaker who goes to Yonkers to find a match for a miserable, unmarried millionaire, which seems impossible. The original production ran for six years, and the cast included Carol Channing as Dolly Gallagher Levi, David Burns as Horace Vandergelder, Charles Nelson Reilly as Cornelius Hackl, and more.
Running for ten years, Jersey Boys was a jukebox musical with music from The Four Seasons, which tells the story of the success and breakup of the band. The original cast was composed of John Lloyd Young as Frankie Vallie, Christian Hoff as Tommy DeVito, Daniel Reichard as Bob Gaudio, and J. Robert Spencer as Nick Massi.
Created by epic lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton is a musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton. It was immensely successful. The original Hamilton cast included Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, and more.
My Fair Lady ran for six years and follows the story of a young woman who takes speech lessons to pass as a lady. The original cast consisted of Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins, among others, and won six Tony Awards. Rex Harrison reprised his role in the film adaptation.
A Chorus Line ran for fifteen years and centers on seventeen Broadway dancers who are all auditioning to be a part of one chorus line that would take their career to the next level. The original production starred several big names, including Robert LuPone, Wayne Cilento, Baayork Lee, Kelly Bishop, Sammy Williams, and more.
Hairspray is a musical about a young woman who dreams of dancing on a TV show, and when she gets her chance, she uses her new fame for change. The original production on Broadway ran for seven years and starred Marissa Jaret Winokur as Tracy, Harvey Fierstein as Edna, Matthew Morrison as Link Larkin, and more.
Mamma Mia! was a jukebox musical that used the music of ABBA! to tell the story of a young woman inviting three men, whom she presumed could be her father, to her wedding to walk her down the aisle. The original Broadway production ran for fourteen years and starred Louise Pitre as Donna, Judy Kaye as Rosie, Karen Mason as Tanya, and Tina Maddigan as Sophie.
Fiddler on the Roof initially ran for eight years and follows Teyve, a Jewish milkman, and his life with his three daughters who wish to marry for love. The original production starred Zero Mostel, Maria Karnilova, Joanna Merlin, Julia Migenes, Austin Pendleton, and more.
Based on one of Julie Andrews's best movies, Mary Poppins, and the children's books of the same name, the Broadway production is about the nanny, Mary Poppins, and her magical powers that help children. The original Broadway production ran for seven years and starred Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins, Gavin Lee as Bert, and Daniel Jenkins as George Banks.
Wicked is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and has ran for several years. The original production starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda and a Wicked film adaptation in 2024.
The Broadway production of Miss Saigon is based on the opera Madame Butterfly and follows the story of an Asian woman and her American lover during the Vietnam War. The original Broadway production ran for ten years and starred Lea Salonga as Kim, Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer, and Willy Falk as Chris.
Avenue Q is a parody of Sesame Street but is very adult and talks about real-life problems that involve serious topics. The original Broadway production ran for six years before moving to Off-Broadway. The original cast included John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rick Lyon, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jordan Felber, Anne Harada, and Jennifer Barnhart.
Based on the Academy Award-winning film of the same name, Beauty and the Beast is about a young man turned into a beast who must learn to love to turn back into a human. The production ran for thirteen years, and the original cast included Susan Egan, Terrence Mann, Burke Moses, Gary Beach, Beth Fowler, and more.
Kinky Boots ran for six years and tells the story of a young man who inherited a shoe factory from his father and teams up with a drag queen to produce a line of shoes to save the business from going under. The original production included actors such as Billy Porter as Lola, Stark Sands as Charlie Price, and Annaleigh Ashford as Lauren.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has ran for several years on Broadway and is considered a sequel to the Harry Potter films and books, telling the story of Harry's child, Albus Severus Potter. It stars Jamie Parker, Paul Thornley, Poppy Miller, Anthony Boyle, and more.
These are some successful shows.
When it comes to the things that entertain us, we could turn to movies on Netflix or shows on Hulu or whatever is out there, but I've always loved Broadway shows and musicals.
Believe it or not, some productions have been on that stage for a crazy amount of time, whether it was five years or twenty-plus years. So, if you're curious about Broadway plays or musicals that have been on the stage for an intense amount of time, here are the ones that might surprise you.
Broadway has had some awesome shows that have run for a long time. Here are some of the best that you have to know about.
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