When The Phantom of the Opera closed last year, after almost 14,000 performances, it ended its reign as the longest running production on Broadway. While it technically still holds the crown as Broadway’s longest running show (of all time), the move passed the mantle of longest running productions currently on Broadway to the 1996 revival of Chicago.
So what other shows make up the top six?
Having debuted just a year later, The Lion King sits closely behind Chicago, which still sits as the highest grossing Broadway show of all time, and has (along with Chicago), more than 10,000 performances under its belt.
This iconic Disney show is followed by Wicked, which opened six years later in 2003, and is currently the biggest movie in the world – which will certainly ensure that The Wizard of Oz tie-in will continue for years to come at the Gershwin Theatre.
The hilarious The Book of Mormon sits in fourth place, having enjoyed performances at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre since it opened in March 2011. In fifth place is Disney’s Aladdin, which has been entertaining audiences at the company’s own New Amsterdam Theatre since March 2014. And rounding out of the top six is Hamilton, which has been performed 8 times a week at the Richard Rodgers Theatre since mid-2015, and remains one of Broadways hottest tickets. I recently saw the production myself, and can confirm – it’s still a must see.
While shows do regularly sell out, their long running nature means it’s not too difficult to get your hands on tickets. Chicago, The Lion King, Hamilton, Aladdin and The Book of Mormon are all available through The Broadway Collection, while details on tickets to Wicked can be found HERE.
You can also look into rush tickets and lotteries for discounted on-the-day opportunities at the respective websites for each show.
And whether or not you’ve already seen these shows, and happen to be on Broadway, then one place to go and learn more about these productions (and so, so many others) is at the new Museum of Broadway, which opened two years ago and celebrates the entire history of Broadway. I was fortunate enough to pay a visit to the museum when I was in the city last month, and was impressed not just by the breadth of history that the museum tackles, but by how deep into the process of production they delve.
You start the experience in a stairwell, not unlike the one that performers will use to get from their dressing rooms to the stage. They fill the stairwell with information about the actor’s experience, before you come to the start of the exhibit, where a couple of photo opportunities await you. The museum’s incredible, knowledgeable staff are there if you need someone to take photos of you, and provide further context for the exhibits. Everyone we met there was such a fan of the craft, it was infectious as a museum attendee.
The museum moves chronologically from here, starting with the Ziegfeld Follies, and the origins of Broadway. Then, you’ll make your way through to the launch of what is now referred to as the “Golden Age of Broadway”, with Oklahoma! in the 1940s. While there is the occasional prop or costume from the productions, more regularly you’ll find custom made pieces designed to make you feel like you’re on the show’s original set. See below for the cornfields that lined the room celebrating Oklahoma!, accompanied by photos from the original production.
Later, you’ll find a swing for a Hair, chairs dedicated to Cabaret, and a replica of Max Bialystock’s office from Mel Brooks’ The Producers – all to get that perfect photo opportunity from your favourite show. You’ll also find some of the iconic costumes and set pieces from The Lion King, and a miniature which shows off the scale of Wicked‘s original staging.
Elsewhere, things get a lot more interactive. For starters, check out the section dedicated to the career of Stephen Sondheim, and you’ll find a crossword where you solve anagrams of Sondheim musical titles.
As the museum continues, they move away from highlighting specific shows, and onto using specific shows to talk about different aspects of a Broadway production. There are displays on set design, script development, and even a booth that shows you how the people behind-the-scenes call all the changes that need to be made during a show. It shows you just how intense and involved each and every performance is – to the point that the things you would assumed were now programmed and automated, are definitely still done by human hand.
The makeup department also have their time to shine, and guests have the opportunity to see what it would be like if they, too, were dressed up to look like a Hogwarts headmaster.
They cleverly use every inch of the space, so look down every corner, as you never know what you might find. The museum is filled with history and knowledge of the who, the what, the when, the how and the why that comprises Broadway. There are great photo opportunities and interactive moments throughout. And yes, there’s even a yellow brick road… well – sort of. It’s a staircase. But once again you see just how well they cram every inch of their property with the best of Broadway.
With all these experiences combined, and a fabulous staff at the helm, The Museum of Broadway is a must-do for any fans of the theatre. Be it one of the longest running shows still enjoying eight performances a week, or the classics that gave the iconic theatre district its start.
The Museum of Broadway is open 7 days a week, at 145 W 45th St, from 9.30am to 4pm on Mondays to Wednesdays, and 9.30am to 6.30pm Thursdays to Sundays. There’s also a gift shop that doesn’t require a Museum ticket to access, should you be in New York and looking for some Broadway related stocking stuffers!
To book your tickets to The Museum of Broadway, head to their official website.
Photo of The Lion King provided by The Broadway Collection and Disney. Other photos by the author unless otherwise credited. The author visited the Museum as a guest of the Museum of Broadway, and attended Hamilton as a guest of The Broadway Collection.
