December 1, 2017
Chapter 12: (Surprises)
At the end of every season (Tony time in June), the Broadway League updates its list of the longest running shows in Broadway history. "The Business of Broadway” is accurate as of 2015 (directly below) so we're updating the list to 2017:
2015: Broadway's top twenty longest running shows are all musicals except Life with Father and Tobacco Road, both produced in the 1940's. After decades of new dramas and comedies, it is surprising that these plays remain on the current list. Six of the top twenty (Phantom, Chicago, The Lion King,Mamma Mia!, Wicked, and Jersey Boys) are still running. Here's the list as of 2014 according to Playbill.com and the Broadway League, although current shows will be moving up on the list. 1) The Phantom of the Opera (over 10,600 performances and counting); 2) the revival of Chicago (over 7,500 and counting); 3) Cats (7,485 performances); 4) Les Miserables (6,680); 5) The Lion King (over 6,500 and counting); 6) A Chorus Line (6,137); 7) the revival of Oh, Calcutta (5,959); 8) Beauty and the Beast (5,461); 9) Rent (5,123); 10) Mamma Mia! (over 5,000 and counting); 11) Wicked (over 4,500 and counting); 12) Miss Saigon (4,097); 13) 42nd Street (3,486); 14) Grease (3,388); 15) Jersey Boys (over 3,500 and counting); 16) Fiddler on the Roof (3,242); 17) Life with Father (3,224); 18) Tobacco Road (3,182); 19) Hello, Dolly (2,844); 20) My Fair Lady (2,717); Honorable mentions go to Hairspray, Mary Poppins, The Producers, Avenue Q, and the Roundabout Theatre revival of Cabaret.
June 2017: Broadway's top twenty longest running shows are all musicals except Life with Father and Tobacco Road, both produced in the 1940's. After decades of new dramas and comedies, it is surprising that these plays remain on the current list. FOUR of the top twenty (Phantom, Chicago, The Lion King, and Wicked) are still running. Here's the list as of June 2017 according to Playbill.com and the Broadway League, although current shows will be moving up on the list. 1) The Phantom of the Opera (over 12,200 performances and counting); 2) the revival of Chicago (over 8,500 and counting); 3) The Lion King (over 8,100 and counting); 4) Cats (7,485 performances); 5) Les Miserables (6,680); 6) A Chorus Line (6,137); 7) the revival of Oh, Calcutta (5,959); 8) Wicked (over 5,800 and counting); 9) Mamma Mia! (5,758); 10) Beauty and the Beast (5,461); 11) Rent (5,123); 12) Jersey Boys (4,642); 13) Miss Saigon (4,092); 14) 42nd Street (3,486); 15) Grease (3,388); 16) Fiddler on the Roof (3,242); 17) Life with Father (3,224); 18) Tobacco Road (3,182); 19) Hello, Dolly (2,844); 20) My Fair Lady (2,717); Honorable mentions go to Hairspray, Mary Poppins, The Producers, Avenue Q, and Book of Mormon).
Chapter 10 (Investing and Producing)
No surprise that January is a weak month for ticket sales (except for monster hits). Therefore it is not big news that at least 5 shows have already announced that they will shutter their doors in mid-January, if not before.
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