The world’s longest-running musical? I don’t think so!
Posted by Singing Librarian on October 8, 2006
This weekend, Les Miserables is celebrating its 21st birthday on the West End, claiming the crown of London’s longest ever run for a musical (The Mouse Trap, of course, is miles ahead, but is a straight play). The press claims have been that this will make it the world’s longest-running musical, but that’s really a bit of a lie, or at least an example of hyperbole.
It certainly beats Cats as the longest-runner in London (with Phantom of the Opera holding that record for Broadway), but none of those shows come anywhere near the long run that was enjoyed by a little show called The Fantasticks in New York. Not a spectacular show, and not (it has to be admitted) with the same audience capacity in the theatre, it nevertheless ran for just under 42 years, twice as long as Les Mis has trundled on for. It’s not as splashy and newsworthy, though, so it seems it can be conveniently swept under the carpet in order to make the London record sound so much more impressive.
The Fantasticks is a lovely little show, and it introduced the world to ‘Try to Remember’, a song that crops up every so often, most recently in a TV commercial for coffee in the UK. The songs and the script make me smile, though they don’t move me as much as Les Miserables does. I just feel it deserves to keep the distinction of world’s longest running musical – 41 years and 8 months is no small achievement!
Pat said
I just found your blog today and have enjoyed reading it. We share a lot of common ground except for the fact that I am female, pushing pretty darn close to 50 and live across the pond. I, too, am a librarian, would love to read all day if I could… I have been involved in the theatre and it’s many forms since 1971 and I have to attribute it all to this sweet and sentimental show The Fantastiks. Soon It’s Gonna Rain-what a beautiful song. I currently direct 2 shows a year for the high school hear and perform in 3 for the local community theatre, and am interested to hear how your audition for Kiss Me Kate went. (Goes?) My best advice for theatre and life in general….Dive right in!
Singing Librarian said
Thanks for dropping by. ‘Soon It’s Gonna Rain’ is indeed lovely, and ‘Plant a Radish’ always makes me laugh.
Multiple Viewings « Music Man said
[...] longest running musical. Of course we know that isn’t quite true, as you will know if you read The Singing Librarian. But there was nothing about the individuals who go and watch a musical over and over again, and [...]
Alex said
The show is the longest show off Broadway.
Singing Librarian said
Yes, I know – that’s why I said ‘on New York’ instead of ‘on Broadway’. I was simply countering the media notion that Les Mis was “the world’s longest running musical”, which simply isn’t true – when they say ‘the world’, they should mean ‘the world’ and not ’selected theatres in London and New York which qualify as West End or Broadway’.
Kris said
Anne of Green Gables is the longest running musical. The show is entering it’s 44th year. The Fantasticks ran from May 3, 1960, to Jan. 13, 2002.
Singing Librarian said
Now that opens up an interesting question – does a show that is mounted every summer, as in the case of Anne of Green Gables (I assume you’re referring to the annual Prince Edward Island production) ‘count’. It’s arguably 44 different mountings of the same show, or a show where the actual length of run is actually somewhere between 11 and 15 years… Still quite an achievement, though, I admit.
DERYA said
I WANT TO KNOW THAT THE DIFFFERENT 3 OF THE LONGEST RUNNING WEST END THEATRE SHOWS