# List of Broadway shows that have held the title of longest-running show

**Section:** 

| Took lead | Title | Type | Opening date | Closing date | Performances | Comments/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 9, 2006 | The Phantom of the Opera | M | January 26, 1988 | - | 12,927 | Currently running at the Majestic Theatre 7 Tony Awards in 1988, including Best Musical 7 Drama Desk Awards in 1988 Broadway's longest-running show and musical |
| June 19, 1997 | Cats | M | October 7, 1982 | September 10, 2000 | 7,485 | 7 Tony Awards in 1983, including Best Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1983 Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1984 |
| September 29, 1983 | A Chorus Line | M | July 25, 1975 | April 28, 1990 | 6,137 | 9 Tony Awards in 1976, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1976, including Outstanding Musical A Special Tony Award in 1984 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976 Revival in 2006 (759 performances) |
| December 8, 1979 | Grease | M | February 14, 1972 | April 13, 1980 | 3,388 | 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1972 Revivals in 1994 (1,505 performances) and 2007 (554 performances) |
| June 17, 1972 | Fiddler on the Roof | M | September 22, 1964 | July 2, 1972 | 3,242 | Became longest running musical in July 1971, at 2,845 performances passing 2,844 mark of Hello Dolly!. 9 Tony Awards in 1965, including Best Musical A Special Tony Award in 1972 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical Revivals in 1976 (167 performances), 1981 (53 performances), 1990, (241 performances), 2004 (781 performances), and 2015 (431 performances) |
| June 14, 1947 | Life with Father | P | November 8, 1939 | July 12, 1947 | 3,224 | Broadway's longest-running straight play. Started at Empire Theatre, moved to the Bijou Theatre in 1945, and finished up its run in 1947 at the Alvin Theatre. |
| June 1939 | Tobacco Road | P | December 4, 1933 | May 31, 1941 | 3,182 | Revivals in 1942 (34 performances), 1943 (66 performances), and 1950 (7 performances) |
| May 23, 1925 | Abie's Irish Rose | P | May 23, 1923 | October 1, 1927 | 2,327 | Revivals in 1937 (46 performances) and 1954 (20 performances) |
| March 17, 1920 | Lightnin' | P | August 26, 1918 | August 27, 1921 | 1,291 | Revival in 1938 (54 performances) |
| June 22, 1893 | A Trip to Chinatown | M | November 9, 1891 | August 7, 1893 | 657 | - |
| December 1885 | Adonis | M | September 4, 1884 | April 17, 1886 | 603 | - |
| May 1881 | Hazel Kirke | P | February 4, 1880 | May 31, 1881 | 486 | 250th performance programme claimed play had exceeded number of consecutive performances of any "similar play" in the country on its 238th performance, which is no doubt a reference to Pique (1875) which ran for 237 performances. |
| August 5, 1867 | The Black Crook | M | September 12, 1866 | January 4, 1868 | 474 | First Broadway show to run for over one year. In terms of a "musical", The Seven Sisters (1860–61, 253 perf.), was probably the longest running show closest to a "musical" prior to this. |
| 1853 | Uncle Tom's Cabin (Aiken version) | P | August 8, 1853 | May 13, 1854 | 325 | Has generally been classified as a play, though some arguments have been made that it was a musical. Played at the National Theatre. |
| 1850 | The Drunkard | P | 1850 | October 7, 1850? | 100 | As of October 7, 1850, it hit 100 consecutive performances in New York, the first play to do so. At Barnum's American Museum. |
| September 24, 1844 | Putnam, the Iron Son of '76 | P | August 5, 1844 | November 2, 1844 | 78 | At the Bowery Theatre. If Mazeppa ran 43 nights in 1833 and was previous record, Putnam became most performed on its 44th performance on September 24, 1844. |
| 1833 | Mazeppa, Or, The Wild Horse of Ukraine | P | July 22, 1833 | September 9, 1833 | 43 | At the Bowery Theatre with George Gale as Mazeppa. |
| 1831 | The Elephant of Siam and the Fire Fiend by Samuel Beazley | P | January 10, 1831 | ? | 18 | At the Bowery Theatre, the first season under Thomas S. Hamblin, who embraced melodramas which might support longer runs. |

Question: When was "Cats" the longest-running Broadway show and which show surpassed it?