Longest Running Chicago Runs

The totals for number of performances do not include previews. Off-Broadway shows generally play, like Broadway, eight performances a week, or about 416 performances per year

Chicago Theatres - number of performances are from a number of sources, and accuracy is somewhat limited, and certain shows like Too Much Light, Lend Me a Tenor, and Forever Plaid is difficult to guesstimate as limited performances each week, but this will give some idea of the long runs in this major theatre town

10,816 *Shear Madness (1980 Chicago Theatre - downstairs)

5,408+ Flanagan's Wake (1995 Soho Playhouse)

1,948 Pump Boys and Dinettes (1948)

18th year - Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (1993 Apollo)

Lend Me a Tenor (2003 Athenaeum)

Forever Plaid (Royal George)

1,500 *Wicked (as of closing Jan 25/09) (2005 Ford Centre)

800 Good Night Ladies (1945 Blackstone)

712 Kiss and Tell (2005 Bailiwick)

630+ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1993 Chicago)

616 Odd Couple (1966 Drury Lane)

560+ Showboat (1996 Auditorium)

528 Life With Father (1940 Blackstone)

525 Godspell (1972 Studebaker)

525 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (2006 Dury Lane)

500+ *Color Purple (2007 Cadillac Palace)

500+ *Blue Man Group (Briar St. Theatre)

490 Cats (1985 Shubert)

455 Music Man (1959 Shubert)

420 Hair (1969 Shubert)

420 Hello Dolly (1966 Shubert)

420 Chorus Line (1978 Shubert)

385 Producers (2002 Ford Centre)

350 Promises Promises (1970 Shubert)

385 Evita (1980 Shubert)

385 Oklahoma (1943 Erlanger)

350 Cactus Flower (1968 Blackstone)

315 How to Succeed in Business (1963 Shubert)

315 Miss Saigon (1992 Auditorium)

315 Phantom of the Opera (1990 Auditorium)

280 His Way-A Tribute to the Man and His Music (Mercury)

280 Kiss Me Kate (1949 Shubert)

280 Lion King (2003 Cadillac Palace)

280 Ragtime (1998 Oriental)

210 1776 (1971 Shubert)

210 Carousel (1947 Subert)

210 Les Miserables (1988 Auditorium)

175 Flower Drum Song (1960 Shubert)

175 Pajama Game (1955 Shubert)

175 They're Playing Our Song (1979 Shubert)

175 Grease (1973 Shubert)

140+ Can Can (1955 Shubert)

140+ Lion King (revival) (2005 Cadillac Palace)

105 Mamma Mia (2001 Cadillac Palace)

105 Aida (1999 Cadillac Palace)

105 Buddy (1999 Shubert)

105 Chicago (1997 Shubert)

105 Funny Girl (1965 Shubert)

105 A Funny Thing Happened (1964 Shubert)

105+ Hats (2007 Royal George Theatre)

100+ A Steady Rain (May 4/08) (2007 Royal George Theatre)