The Most Popular Broadway Musicals Ever Musicals / Plays
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The Most Popular Broadway Musicals Ever

Constance Bennet Constance Bennet 224,648 views 94 items
These are the 94 most long running Broadway shows in history, which also makes them the most popular Broadway musicals ever. What are the most popular broadway musicals? From standards like Chorus Line to newer hits like The Lion King, these longest running Broadway shows are classics that nobody can compete with. And, being a theater nerd myself, I hope to see each and every one of these live on stage in my lifetime. So, what are the best broadway musicals of all time?

For more, vote on this list of Stage Musicals That Would Make Great Movies.
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Order   Name
  1. 1

    The Phantom of the Opera

    Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe , Charles Hart More
    “ Opened on January 26, 1988. Featured 9451 performances. „
  2. 2

    Cats

    Andrew Lloyd Webber , T. S. Eliot , Trevor Nunn More
    “ Opened on October 7, 1982. Closed on September 10, 2000. Featured 7485 performances. „
  3. 3

    Les Misérables

    Claude-Michel Schönberg , Alain Boublil , Herbert Kretzmer More
    “ Opened on March 12, 1987. Closed on May 18, 2003. Featured 6680 performances. „
  4. 4

    A Chorus Line

    Marvin Hamlisch , Edward Kleban , Nicholas Dante More
    “ Opened on July 25, 1975. Closed on April 28, 1990. Featured 6137 performances. „
  5. 5

    Oh! Calcutta!

    Kenneth Tynan
    “ Opened on September 24, 1976. Closed on August 6, 1989. Featured 5959 performances.

    Opened on June 17, 1969. Closed on August 12, 1972. Featured 1314 performances.
     „
  6. 6

    Chicago

    John Kander , Fred Ebb , Bob Fosse More
    “ Opened on November 14, 1996. Featured 5780 performances. „
  7. 7

    Beauty and the Beast

    Alan Menken , Tim Rice , Howard Ashman More
    “ Opened on April 18, 1994. Closed on July 29, 2007. Featured 5461 performances. „
  8. 8

    The Lion King

    Hans Zimmer , Elton John , Mark Mancina More
    “ Opened on November 13, 1997. Featured 5365 performances. „
  9. 9

    Rent

    Jonathan Larson , Jonathan Larson , Jonathan Larson
    “ Opened on April 29, 1996. Closed on September 7, 2008. Featured 5123 performances. „
  10. 10

    Miss Saigon

    Claude-Michel Schönberg , Richard Maltby, Jr. More
    “ Opened on April 11, 1991. Closed on January 28, 2001. Featured 4097 performances. „
  11. 11

    Mamma Mia!

    Björn Ulvaeus , Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus More
    “ Opened on October 18, 2001. Featured 3728 performances. „
  12. 12

    42nd Street

    Harry Warren , Al Dubin , Mark Bramble More
    “ Opened on August 25, 1980. Closed on January 8, 1989. Featured 3486 performances.

    Opened on May 2, 2001. Closed on January 2, 2005. Featured 1524 performances.
     „
  13. 13

    Grease

    Jim Jacobs , Warren Casey , Jim Jacobs More
    “ Opened on February 14, 1972. Closed on April 13, 1980. Featured 3388 performances.

    Opened on May 11, 1994. Closed on January 25, 1998. Featured 1505 performances.
     „
  14. 14

    Fiddler on the Roof

    Jerry Bock , Sheldon Harnick , Joseph Stein
    “ Opened on September 22, 1964. Closed on July 2, 1972. Featured 3242 performances. „
  15. 15

    Life with Father

    “ Opened on November 8, 1939. Closed on July 12, 1947. Featured 3224 performances. „
  16. 16

    Tobacco Road

    “ Opened on December 4, 1933. Closed on May 31, 1941. Featured 3182 performances. „
  17. 17

    Wicked

    Stephen Schwartz , Stephen Schwartz , Winnie Holzman
    “ Opened on October 30, 2003. Featured 2886 performances. „
  18. 18

    Hello, Dolly!

    “ Opened on January 16, 1964. Closed on December 27, 1970. Featured 2844 performances. „
  19. 19

    My Fair Lady

    Frederic Loewe , Alan Jay Lerner , Alan Jay Lerner
    “ Opened on March 15, 1956. Closed on September 29, 1962. Featured 2717 performances. „
  20. 20

    Hairspray

    Marc Shaiman , Marc Shaiman , Scott Wittman More
    “ Opened on August 16, 2002. Closed on January 4, 2009. Featured 2642 performances. „
  21. 21

    Avenue Q

    Robert Lopez , Jeff Marx , Robert Lopez More
    “ Opened on July 31, 2003. Closed on September 13, 2009. Featured 2534 performances. „
  22. 22

    The Producers

    Mel Brooks , Mel Brooks , Mel Brooks More
    “ Opened on April 19, 2001. Closed on April 22, 2007. Featured 2502 performances. „
  23. 23

    Cabaret

    John Kander , Fred Ebb , Joe Masteroff
    “ Opened on March 19, 1998. Closed on January 4, 2004. Featured 2377 performances.

    Opened on November 20, 1966. Closed on September 6, 1969. Featured 1165 performances.
     „
  24. 24

    Annie

    Charles Strouse , Martin Charnin , Thomas Meehan
    “ Opened on April 21, 1977. Closed on January 2, 1983. Featured 2377 performances. „
  25. 25

    Man of La Mancha

    Mitch Leigh , Joe Darion , Dale Wasserman
    “ Opened on November 22, 1965. Closed on June 26, 1971. Featured 2328 performances. „

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  1. Jackson Agilar
    The Most Popular Broadway Musicals Ever at 12/18/2012 6:30 PM
    awesome popular musicalsthing here.
  2. Jane's Affliction
    The Most Popular Broadway Musicals Ever at 12/02/2012 7:30 PM
    this isn't a bad thing to write about top broadway musicals, i guess.
  3. Katelynn Halphen
    The Most Popular Broadway Musicals Ever at 7/14/2012 7:30 AM
    cool famous broadway musicalsthing here.
  4. Jackson Kelln
    The Most Popular Broadway Musicals Ever at 6/22/2012 8:30 PM
    sweet most popular musicalsthing here.

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