List of the shortest-running Broadway shows
This is a list of Broadway shows with 20 or fewer regular performances. The list only includes shows that had open-ended runs or limited runs that ended earlier than planned. The shows must have officially opened on Broadway, and thus productions that closed during previews are not included.
List[]
Unless otherwise noted, the run count listed is for the original Broadway production of the show. M denotes a musical, P denotes a straight play, R denotes revue, D denotes a predominantly dance musical, and S denotes a special case.
No. | Title | Type | Opening date |
Closing date |
Perfs. | Prevs. | Comment | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | A Broadway Musical | M | December 21, 1978 | December 21, 1978 | 1 | 14 | [1] | |
1. | A Teaspoon Every Four Hours | P | June 14, 1969 | June 14, 1969 | 1 | 97 | Opening night was originally scheduled for April 3, 1969, and was delayed multiple times. | [2] |
1. | M | March 22, 1969 | March 22, 1969 | 1 | 21 | [3] | ||
1. | M | March 22, 1970 | March 22, 1970 | 1 | 20 | [4] | ||
1. | Break a Leg | R | April 29, 1979 | April 29, 1979 | 1 | 12 | [5] | |
1. | R | March 15, 1981 | March 15, 1981 | 1 | 14 | [6] | ||
1. | M | June 23, 1982 | June 23, 1982 | 1 | 6 | [7] | ||
1. | Dance a Little Closer | M | May 11, 1983 | May 11, 1983 | 1 | 25 | [8] | |
1. | P | March 16, 1971 | March 16, 1971 | 1 | 16 | One of three plays by Oliver Hailey that closed on opening night | [9] | |
1. | P | February 26, 1966 | February 26, 1966 | 1 | 13 | One of three plays by Oliver Hailey that closed on opening night | [10] | |
1. | M | April 24, 1971 | April 24, 1971 | 1 | 7 | [11] | ||
1. | P | January 4, 1981 | January 4, 1981 | 1 | 29 | [12] | ||
1. | P | October 20, 1970 | October 20, 1970 | 1 | [13] | |||
1. | Gantry | M | February 14, 1970 | February 14, 1970 | 1 | 31 | [14] | |
1. | Glory Days | M | May 6, 2008 | May 6, 2008 | 1 | 17 | [15] | |
1. | The Goodbye People (1979 revival) | P | April 30, 1979 | April 30, 1979 | 1 | 16 | The original production ran for 7 performances | [16] |
1. | M | May 21, 1972 | May 21, 1972 | 1 | 6 | [17] | ||
1. | Here's Where I Belong | M | March 3, 1968 | March 3, 1968 | 1 | 20 | [18] | |
1. | Home Sweet Homer | M | January 4, 1976 | January 4, 1976 | 1 | 11 | [19] | |
1. | P | May 10, 1981 | May 10, 1981 | 1 | 7 | One of three plays by Oliver Hailey that closed on opening night | [20] | |
1. | Kelly | M | February 6, 1965 | February 6, 1965 | 1 | 7 | [21] | |
1. | La Strada | M | December 14, 1969 | December 14, 1969 | 1 | 12 | [22] | |
1. | Little Johnny Jones (1982 revival) | M | March 21, 1982 | March 21, 1982 | 1 | 29 | The original production ran for 52 performances | [23] |
1. | The Moony Shapiro Songbook | M | May 3, 1981 | May 3, 1981 | 1 | 15 | [24] | |
1. | Moose Murders | P | February 22, 1983 | February 22, 1983 | 1 | 13 | [25] | |
1. | P | November 17, 2003 | November 17, 2003 | 1 | 19 | [26] | ||
1. | Onward Victoria | M | December 14, 1980 | December 14, 1980 | 1 | 23 | [27] | |
1. | M | June 27, 1982 | June 27, 1982 | 1 | 14 | [28] | ||
1. | M | February 13, 1974 | February 13, 1974 | 1 | 3 | [29] | ||
1. | P | April 29, 1972 | April 29, 1972 | 1 | 3 | [30] | ||
1. | The Ritz (1983 revival) | P | May 2, 1983 | May 2, 1983 | 1 | 14 | The original production ran for 398 performances | [31] |
1. | Take Me Along (1985 revival) | M | April 14, 1985 | April 14, 1985 | 1 | 7 | The original production ran for 448 performances | [32] |
1. | P | April 28, 1983 | April 28, 1983 | 1 | 7 | [33] | ||
1. | The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall | M | May 13, 1979 | May 13, 1979 | 1 | 7 | [34] | |
1. | M | December 7, 1971 | December 7, 1971 | 1 | 9 | [35] | ||
35. | P | October 2, 1974 | October 2, 1974 | 2 | 10 | The show opened on a matinée performance and closed after the evening performance that same day. | [36] | |
35. | Teaneck Tanzi: The Venus Flytrap | P | April 20, 1983 | April 20, 1983 | 2 | 13 | The show opened on a matinée performance and closed after the evening performance that same day. | [37] |
37. | P | April 29, 1965 | May 1, 1965 | 4 | 12 | [38] | ||
37. | Bring Back Birdie | M | March 5, 1981 | March 7, 1981 | 4 | 31 | [39] | |
37. | P | April 2, 1953 | April 4, 1953 | 4 | [40] | |||
37. | Rags | M | August 21, 1986 | August 23, 1986 | 4 | 18 | Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical | [41] |
37. | The Fig Leaves Are Falling | M | January 2, 1969 | January 6, 1969 | 4 | 17 |
Dorothy Loudon nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a musical |
[42] |
37. | Song of the Grasshopper | P | September 28, 1967 | September 30, 1967 | 4 | 4 | [43] | |
43. | A Doll's Life | M | September 23, 1982 | September 26, 1982 | 5 | 18 | [44] | |
43. | Carrie | M | May 12, 1988 | May 15, 1988 | 5 | 16 | [45] | |
43. | Raggedy Ann | M | October 16, 1986 | October 19, 1986 | 5 | 15 | [46] | |
43. | P | October 15, 1998 | October 17, 1998 | 5 | 16 | [47] | ||
43. | P | April 26, 1984 | April 29, 1984 | 5 | 7 | [48] | ||
43. | P | May 5, 2004 | May 8, 2004 | 5 | 22 | [49] | ||
43. | The Red Shoes | M | December 16, 1993 | December 19, 1993 | 5 | 51 | [50] | |
43. | P | December 3, 1952 | December 6, 1952 | 5 | [51] | |||
43. | Seven Brides for Seven Brothers | M | July 8, 1982 | July 11, 1982 | 5 | 15 | [52] | |
43. | The Story of My Life | M | February 19, 2009 | February 22, 2009 | 5 | 19 | [53] | |
52. | Carnival in Flanders | M | September 8, 1953 | September 12, 1953 | 6 | Won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, thus holding the record for Tony-winning performance with the briefest run. | [54] | |
52. | Into the Light | M | October 22, 1986 | October 26, 1986 | 6 | 13 | [55] | |
52. | The Performers | P | November 14, 2012 | November 18, 2012 | 6 | 24 | [56] | |
55. | M | October 14, 1952 | October 18, 1952 | 7 | [57] | |||
55. | Rockabye Hamlet | M | February 17, 1976 | February 21, 1976 | 7 | 21 | [58] | |
55. | P | February 22, 1966 | February 26, 1966 | 7 | 16 | [59] | ||
55. | Via Galactica | M | November 28, 1972 | December 2, 1972 | 7 | 15 | [60] | |
55. | The Goodbye People | P | December 3, 1968 | December 7, 1968 | 7 | 16 | A 1979 revival closed on opening night | [61] |
55. | High | P | April 19, 2011 | April 24, 2011 | 7 | 29 | [62] | |
60. | Anyone Can Whistle | M | April 4, 1964 | April 11, 1964 | 9 | 12 | [63] | |
60. | S | July 17, 2005 | July 23, 2005 | 9 | 10 | The limited run was originally scheduled to end on September 3, 2005.[64] | [65] | |
60. | Brighton Beach Memoirs (2009 revival) | P | October 25, 2009 | November 1, 2009 | 9 | 25 | The original production ran for 1,299 performances | [66] |
60. | Elling | P | November 21, 2010 | November 28, 2010 | 9 | 22 | [67] | |
60. | The Lieutenant | M | March 9, 1975 | March 16, 1975 | 9 | 7 | Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical | [68] |
60. | Nick & Nora | M | December 8, 1991 | December 15, 1991 | 9 | 71 | [69] | |
60. | Rock 'N Roll! The First 5,000 Years | R | October 24, 1982 | October 31, 1982 | 9 | 25 | [70] | |
67. | A Joyful Noise | M | December 15, 1966 | December 24, 1966 | 12 | 4 | [71] | |
67. | P | October 17, 1974 | October 26, 1974 | 12 | 3 | [72] | ||
67. | Lolita | P | March 19, 1981 | March 28, 1981 | 12 | 31 | [73] | |
67. | P | September 11, 1952 | September 20, 1952 | 12 | [74] | |||
67. | The Threepenny Opera | M | April 13, 1933 | April 22, 1933 | 12 | [75] | ||
72. | Macbeth (2000 revival) | P | June 15, 2000 | June 25, 2000 | 13 | 8 | The limited run ended 5 weeks earlier than originally planned.[76] | [77] |
72. | Metro | M | April 16, 1992 | April 26, 1992 | 13 | 24 | [78] | |
74. | High Fidelity | M | December 7, 2006 | December 17, 2006 | 14 | 18 | [79] | |
74. | R | November 19, 2003 | November 30, 2003 | 14 | 31 | [80] | ||
76. | The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public | M | May 10, 1994 | May 22, 1994 | 16 | 28 | [81] | |
76. | Dude | M | October 9, 1972 | October 21, 1972 | 16 | 16 | [82] | |
76. | The Man Who Had Three Arms | P | April 5, 1983 | April 17, 1983 | 16 | 8 | [83] | |
76. | Merrily We Roll Along | M | November 16, 1981 | November 28, 1981 | 16 | 44 | [84] | |
76. | M | January 21, 1946 | February 2, 1946 | 16 | [85] | |||
76. | Oh, Kay! (1928 revival) | M | January 2, 1928 | January 14, 1928 | 16 | The original production ran for 256 performances | [86] | |
82. | Amour | M | October 20, 2002 | November 3, 2002 | 17 | 31 | Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical | [87] |
82. | The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2006 revival) | P | May 7, 2006 | May 21, 2006 | 17 | 27 | [88] | |
84. | Leap of Faith | M | April 26, 2012 | May 13, 2012 | 19 | 25 | Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical | [89] |
85. | M | March 18, 2010 | April 4, 2010 | 20 | 27 | [90] | ||
85. | P | November 6, 1952 | November 22, 1952 | 20 | [91] |
Shows that closed during previews[]
The following shows started previews but did not officially open on Broadway:[92]
- (1962 play) — closed after 1 preview performance[93]
- The Freaking Out of Stephanie Blake (1967 play) — closed after 3 preview performances
- (1989 musical) — closed after 3 preview performances
- Breakfast at Tiffany's (1966 musical) — closed after 4 preview performances
- (1975 musical) — closed after 6 preview performances
- Bobbi Boland (2003 play) — closed after 7 preview performances
- Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It) (1973 musical) — closed after 7 preview performances
- (1966 play) — closed after 7 preview performances[94]
- Face Value (1993 play) — closed after 8 preview performances
- One Night Stand (1980 musical) — closed after 8 preview performances
- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2020 revival) — closed after 9 preview performances
- (1969 play) — closed after 9 preview performances[95]
- (1966 play) — closed after 10 preview performances[96]
- Hangmen (play) (2020 play) — closed after 13 preview performances
- Leda Had a Little Swan (1968 play) — closed after 14 preview performances[97]
- The Little Prince and the Aviator (1981 musical) — closed after 16 preview performances
- (1976 play) — closed after 16 preview performances[98]
- Let My People Come (1976 revue) — closed after 128 preview performances[99]
See also[]
References[]
Notes
- ^ A Broadway Musical at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ A Teaspoon Every Four Hours at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Billy at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Blood Red Roses at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Break a Leg at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Broadway Follies at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Cleavage at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Dance a Little Closer at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Father's Day at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ First One Asleep, Whistle at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Frank Merriwell at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Frankenstein at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Gandhi at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Gantry at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Glory Days at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Goodbye People (1979 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Heathen! at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Here's Where I Belong at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Home Sweet Homer at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ I Won't Dance at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Kelly at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ La Strada at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Little Johnny Jones (1982 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Moony Shapiro Songbook at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Moose Murders at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Onward Victoria at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Play Me a Country Song at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Rainbow Jones at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Ring Around the Bathtub at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Ritz (1983 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Take Me Along (1985 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Total Abandon at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Wild and Wonderful at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Medea and Jason at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Teaneck Tanzi: The Venus Flytrap at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ A Race of Hairy Men! at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Bring Back Birdie at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Horses in Midstream at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Rags at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ "The Fig Leaves Are Falling Broadway @ Broadhurst Theatre – Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
- ^ Song of the Grasshopper at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ A Doll's Life at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Carrie at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Raggedy Ann at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ More to Love at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Play Memory at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Prymate at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Red Shoes at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ See the Jaguar at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Story of My Life at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Carnival in Flanders at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Into the Light at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Performers at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Buttrio Square at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Peikert, Mark (February 17, 2020). "Looking Back at Rockabye Hamlet on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
- ^ Slapstick Tragedy at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Via Galactica at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Goodbye People at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ High at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Anyone Can Whistle at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ "Suzanne Somers' The Blonde in the Thunderbird to Close on Saturday". BroadwayWorld. July 20, 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ^ The Blonde in the Thunderbird at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Brighton Beach Memoirs (2009 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Elling at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Lieutenant at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Nick & Nora at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Rock 'N Roll! The First 5,000 Years at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ A Joyful Noise at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Dreyfus in Rehearsal at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Lolita at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Seagulls Over Sorrento at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Threepenny Opera at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ McKinley, Jesse (June 20, 2000). "'Macbeth' Will Close After Just 10 Days on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ^ Macbeth at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Metro at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ High Fidelity at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Jackie Mason's Laughing Room Only at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Dude at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Man Who Had Three Arms at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Merrily We Roll Along at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Nellie Bly at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Oh, Kay! (1928 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Amour at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2006 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Leap of Faith at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ All About Me at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Climate of Eden at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 3, 2019). "16 Broadway Shows That Closed Before Opening". Playbill. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ Infidel Caesar at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Venus Is at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ A Way of Life at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ The Office at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Leda Had a Little Swan at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Me Jack, You Jill at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Let My People Come at the Internet Broadway Database
Further reading[]
- Mandelbaum, Ken (1992). Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0312082734.
Categories:
- Broadway theatre
- Theatre-related lists of superlatives