Since 1987
A wily cop tries to psych out a possibly homicidal shrink in Warren Manzi’s moldy, convoluted Off Broadway whodunit. Catherine Russell, who has starred in the show since it opened, holds the world record for most performances in a female role.
There’s no science to explain why a given play or a musical becomes one of the longest-running shows in New York. Critical acclaim and Tony Awards can have something to do with it, combined with word of mouth, media exposure, canny marketing and cheap tickets. But beyond that, there is a certain point where a theater production can keep running mainly on momentum. (How else to account for Perfect Crime?) This list of major shows that have been playing for more than five years turns out to be quite diverse, with Broadway powerhouses such as The Lion King and Wicked rubbing shoulders with Off Broadway institutions like Stomp and Blue Man Group and the newfangled immersive adventure Sleep No More. Just don't assume they'll always be around: Even Cats wasn't really forever. Here are the shows in NYC that have been running for more than ten years.
