
CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Sure, there are some people who don't adore musical theater. But judging from the numbers of these shows, there aren't a ton in that contingent. From a show about big girls rocking out to one with a guy running around in a mask, we've got the 15 biggest hits to grace a Broadway stage (tabulated by the number of shows). Oh, and a couple of videos sure to have you humming along with Elphaba for the rest of the week.
15. Monty Python's Spamalot
Broadway Run: 2005-2009
Total Number of Performances: 1,575
Below: Sara Ramirez sings "Whatever Happened to My Part?"
14. Mary Poppins
Broadway Run: 2006-present
Total Number of Performances: 1,880
Below: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
13. Jersey Boys
Broadway Run: 2005-present
Total Number of Performances: 2,286
Below: Jersey Boys Montage
12. The ProducersBroadway Run: 2001-2007
Total Number of Performances: 2,502
Below: Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick at the 2001 Tony Awards
11. Hairspray
Broadway Run: 2002-2009
Total Number of Performances: 2,642
Below: "You Can't Stop the Beat"
10. Wicked
Broadway Run: 2003-present
Total Number of Performances: 3,131
Below: "Defying Gravity" (2004 Tony Awards)
9. Mamma Mia!
Broadway Run: 2001-present
Total Number of Performances: 3,560
Below: Mamma Mia at Broadway in Bryant Park, 2011: "Mamma Mia," "Dancing Queen," and "Waterloo"
8. Miss Saigon
Broadway Run: 1991-2001
Total Number of Performances: 4,092
Below: "Last Night of the World"
7. Rent
Broadway Run: 1996-2008
Total Number of Performances: 5,123
Below: "Take Me or Leave Me"
6. Beauty and the Beast
Broadway Run: 1994-2007
Total Number of Performances: 5,461
Below: "Be Our Guest," 1995, Los Angeles
5. The Lion King
Broadway Run: 1997-present
Total Number of Performances: 5,610
Below: "The Circle of Life" at the 2008 Tonys
4. Chicago (revival)
Broadway Run: 1996-present
Total Number of Performances: 6,024
Below: "Overture/All That Jazz"
3. Les Miserables (original run)
Broadway Run: 1987-2003
Total Number of Performances: 6,680
Below: Les Miserables at the Tony Awards
2. Cats
Broadway Run: 1982-2000
Total Number of Performances: 7,485
Below: "Memory," Original Broadway Cast
1. Phantom of the Opera
Broadway Run: 1988-Present
Total Performances: 9,697
Below: Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, "Past the Point of No Return"
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Watch Now: Pride Today
Latest Stories
Judges forced a Florida Pride drag show indoors at the last minute
June 12 2025 1:14 PM
Confederate or not? Army bases revert to names of rebels but supposedly honor others
June 12 2025 7:00 AM
U.S. Rep. Sorensen sticks up for Harvey Milk in hearing with Navy secretary
June 11 2025 8:19 PM