The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s acclaimed musical, the winner of seven Tony Awards, opened in January 1988 at the Majestic Theatre and ran for 13,981 performances until it ended in April 2023. The second and third longest-running Broadway productions are still in operation, while several others, both current and past shows, have played at the same theater for several years.
Here’s a look at some of the longest-running shows at select Broadway venues.
1. Al Hirschfeld Theatre (Kinky Boots)
The 27th longest-running Broadway show of all time, Kinky Boots opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in April 2013 and had 2,505 performances by the time it closed in April 2019. It won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, the musical tells the story of the unlikely relationship between shoe factory owner Charlie Price and drag performer Lola. Billy Porter won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Lola. Kinky Boots also won the Tony for Best Sound Design for a Musical (John Shivers), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus), and Best Original Score (Lauper).
Kinky Boots grossed more than $315 million during its six-year run at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. It recorded its highest weekly gross ($2.25 million) during the week ending December 29, 2013, and had an average capacity of 82.42 percent. The musical, which is based on a 2005 film of the same name, will be shown at select venues in fall 2025 as part of a North American tour.
2. Circle in the Square Theatre (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a musical comedy about a fictional youth spelling bee that features audience participation, opened at Circle in the Square Theatre in May 2005 and ran for 1,136 performances before closing in January 2008. It won two Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical, and grossed $45.3 million with an average capacity of 84.82 percent. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Derrick Baskin, and Dan Fogler were among the original cast members. Replacements included Josh Gad, Darrell Hammond, and Greta Lee.
There have been several subsequent productions of the musical in Melbourne, Hong Kong, and London’s West End. Disney has reportedly been working on a film adaptation since 2021.
3. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (Grease)
Formerly known as the Royale Theatre and John Golden Theatre, the 1,078-seat Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre has been in operation since 1927. Grease, the iconic musical that inspired the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, is the venue’s longest-running production. It ran for 3,388 performances from February 1972 to April 1980, making it the 17th longest-running show in Broadway history.
Barry Bostwick and Carole Demas originated the lead roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski on Broadway in 1972. Grease was revived twice on Broadway and has undertaken eight different West End productions. The original musical received seven Tony nominations.
4. Eugene O’Neill Theatre (The Book of Mormon)
Still playing at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, The Book of Mormon opened in March 2011 and, as of March 1, 2025, had exceeded 5,000 performances. Called “the best musical of this century” by Ben Brantley of The New York Times, it is a comedic musical conceived by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone that tells the story of two young Mormons struggling to convert Ugandan villagers. Robert Lopaz composed the music for the production.
The Book of Mormon won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. It is the 11th longest-running show in Broadway history.
5. Minskoff Theatre (The Lion King)
The Minskoff Theatre is the third newest Broadway venue, having opened in 1973. The Lion King, the third longest-running show in Broadway history, has been playing at the Minskoff since 2006 and opened in 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theater. It has had more than 10,700 performances at both venues and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The Lion King opened in London’s West End in 1999 and has had several North American and international tours.
Although Phantom has had in excess of 3,000 more shows than The Lion King, the latter is Broadway’s highest-grossing musical with more than $2 billion in ticket sales as of the week ending February 23, 2025. It grossed more than $4.3 million for the week ending December 31, 2023, its highest-grossing week to date. Moreover, it has played to 97.51 percent capacity since opening.
6. Ambassador Theatre (Chicago)
The 1996 revival of Chicago, the second longest-running show in Broadway history, has been playing at the Ambassador Theatre since 2003 and opened in October 1996 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where the original 1975 production was shown. It transferred to the Sam S. Shubert Theatre in February 1997 and stayed there until January 2003.
As of March 1, the revival had exceeded 11,100 performances and grossed more than $800 million with an average capacity of 82.44 percent. It won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.