Long runs and birthday coincidence

Twenty-three years ago today, A Chorus Line became the longest running show on Broadway. I didn't have to look this up, because I know the date by heart. And not because I have a special connection with the show, although I do think A Chorus Line is a truly great show.

No, the reason I remember that date so well is that September 29th is my birthday. I'm not a big believer in fate, nor in deriving any great meaning from coincidence, but I did think it was awfully cool at the time, and, what the heck, I still do.

It got me thinking about the "longest-running show" distinction, and since I've been posting a lot of lists lately, well, here goes:

Five all-time longest-running shows:
The Phantom of the Opera 7781
Cats 7485
Les Miserables 6680
A Chorus Line 6137
Oh, Calcutta! (revival) 5959

Current longest-running shows:
The Phantom of the Opera 7781
Beauty and the Beast 5112
Rent 4345
Chicago (revival) 4098
The Lion King 3730

So what's the secret to longevity on Broadway? It's hard to generalize from these lists. Is it family appeal? Well, then what about Oh, Calcutta!? Is it splashy spectacle? Rent, Chicago and A Chorus Line would seem to belie that notion.

Well, back to my birthday. Here are some Broadway-related folk who were also born on September 29th:

Madeline Kahn
Debbie Shapiro Gravitte
Darius de Haas
Roger Bart
Greer Garson
Lynnette Perry
Miguel Cervantes

And one final birthday coincidence: on September 29th, 1963, My Fair Lady closed after a six-year run, and at the time was the longest-running musical on Broadway with 2717 performances.

How will I be celebrating? How else? In the theater. Tonight I'm seeing the Boston stop of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Wilbur. And tomorrow I'm seeing High Fidelity at the Colonial. I'll let y'all know what I think.

Comments

[Steve On Broadway (SOB)]

Happy birthday, Chris. Here's to great living, which clearly includes live theatre! All the best, Steve