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    Long runs plan easily; new and closing shows sell fastest

    Some musicals run for decades and some close within weeks. How to read a show's run, its tour and the house before you choose a date and a seat.

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    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing & Juliet
    Broadway

    & Juliet

    & Juliet's final Broadway months: what the show is, how long it runs, where to sit at the Sondheim and why the last weeks sell first.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Aladdin
    Broadway

    Aladdin

    Where to sit for Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre, how long it runs, the age guidance, and when tickets are hardest to find.

    New York, NY
    Venue

    Ambassador Theatre

    Where to sit for Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre, how the diagonal auditorium shapes the view, accessible seating and getting to West 49th Street.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Beaches, A New Musical
    Show

    Beaches, A New Musical

    The record of Beaches, A New Musical on Broadway: its short run at the Majestic, how critics saw it, and what is known about the planned tour.

    New York, NY (closed)
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Buena Vista Social Club
    Broadway

    Buena Vista Social Club

    The musical (not the band) at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre: what it is, how long it runs, where to sit, and how the 2026 tour works.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Cats: The Jellicle Ball
    Show

    Cats: The Jellicle Ball

    The record of Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway: the ballroom concept, the creators, the runway staging, the Tonys and the closing.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Chess
    Show

    Chess

    The record of the 2025–26 Broadway revival of Chess at the Imperial Theatre: dates, cast, creators, reception and the show's history.

    New York, NY
    Broadway

    Chicago the Musical

    Where to sit for Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre, how long it runs, who it suits, and when seats are easiest to find.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Death Becomes Her
    Show

    Death Becomes Her

    What Death Becomes Her is, how its Broadway run went, where the tour plays and where to sit for the comedy and illusions.

    North American tour
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Hadestown
    Broadway

    Hadestown

    Where to sit for Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre, how long it runs, who it suits, and how the touring production works.

    New York, NY
    Broadway

    Hamilton

    Where to sit for Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, how long it runs, who it suits and how the tour works before you buy.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing MJ the Musical
    Broadway

    MJ the Musical

    Michael Jackson's songs, Christopher Wheeldon's choreography and a 1992 rehearsal-room story at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Moulin Rouge! The Musical
    Show

    Moulin Rouge! The Musical

    Where Moulin Rouge! The Musical plays after its 2026 Broadway closing, what the show is, who it suits, and how to choose seats.

    London and world tour
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing SIX
    Broadway

    SIX

    Where to sit for SIX, how short it runs, who it suits, when the Broadway run ends and how the North American tour works.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing The Book of Mormon
    Broadway

    The Book of Mormon

    Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez's Tony-winning musical about two missionaries in Uganda, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing The Lion King
    Broadway

    The Lion King

    Where to sit for The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre, why aisle seats matter, how long it runs and the best ages for kids.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing The Outsiders
    Broadway

    The Outsiders

    Where to sit for The Outsiders on Broadway, how long it runs, who it suits and how the North American tour works before you buy.

    New York, NY
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing The Phantom of the Opera
    Show

    The Phantom of the Opera

    Where to see The Phantom of the Opera now that Broadway has closed: the North American tour, London, New York's Masquerade, and where to sit.

    North American tour
    Abstract theater curtain illustration representing Wicked
    Broadway

    Wicked

    How to pick seats for Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre, how long the stage show runs, who it suits and when demand peaks.

    New York, NY
    By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated How we research

    How Musicals Run on Broadway and on Tour

    A Broadway musical plays one of the 41 Broadway theaters (houses with 500 or more seats in Midtown Manhattan), usually eight performances a week. The key fact for a buyer is the type of run. An open-ended run continues until ticket sales fall below what the show needs to cover its weekly costs, which can mean decades. A limited engagement announces its end date in advance. A national tour moves the show from city to city, usually for a stay of a few weeks in each.

    Musicals are half the new work in a typical season. The Broadway League reported that 43 productions opened in the 2024–2025 season: 21 musicals (16 original and 5 revivals), 21 plays and one special engagement. The season set a record with 14.7 million attendances and audiences filling 91.2 percent of available seats, so the popular titles rarely have empty seats to discount.

    The Long-Running Anchors

    A small group of musicals has played so long that they work almost like permanent attractions. Dates are easy to find, and buyers can plan months out.

    • Chicago the Musical. The Kander and Ebb musical's revival opened on November 14, 1996 and has played the Ambassador Theatre since January 29, 2003. It is the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.
    • The Lion King. Julie Taymor's staging opened on November 13, 1997, moved to the Minskoff Theatre in 2006, and is the highest-grossing Broadway production.
    • Wicked. Open at the Gershwin Theatre since October 30, 2003. The Gershwin, at 1,933 seats, is the largest Broadway house.
    • The Book of Mormon. At the Eugene O'Neill Theatre since March 24, 2011, with nine Tony Awards including Best Musical.
    • Aladdin. Disney's stage version opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014.
    • Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on August 6, 2015 and won 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, from a record 16 nominations.

    Long runs do not mean easy weekends. Saturday evenings and holiday weeks at Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King still sell through, but weeknights months out usually have wide choice.

    Newer Hits, Recent Arrivals and Recent Closings

    The second tier is younger and more volatile. As of October 1, 2026:

    • Hadestown opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre on April 17, 2019 and won eight Tonys, including Best Musical.
    • MJ the Musical opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on February 1, 2022, with a book by Lynn Nottage.
    • SIX, the Tudor-queens pop concert, opened at the Lena Horne Theatre on October 3, 2021 and has announced a Broadway closing date of January 3, 2027.
    • & Juliet, built on Max Martin's songs, opened at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on November 17, 2022 and is also scheduled to close on January 3, 2027.
    • The Outsiders opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on April 11, 2024 and won the 2024 Tony for Best Musical.
    • Buena Vista Social Club opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 19, 2025 after an Off-Broadway run at Atlantic Theater Company, and won four competitive Tonys plus a special award for its live musicians.

    Recent closings show how quickly the list changes. The revival of Chess, with new book by Danny Strong, closed at the Imperial Theatre on June 21, 2026 after 241 performances. Cats: The Jellicle Ball opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7, 2026, won Tonys for direction and choreography, and closed on August 8, 2026. Beaches, A New Musical opened at the Majestic Theatre on April 22, 2026 and closed on May 24 after 38 performances, months ahead of its planned end. Death Becomes Her closed in June 2026 and is now touring, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical played its final Broadway performance on August 30, 2026.

    Touring Musicals Outside New York

    Most Americans see a Broadway musical on tour. Tours are booked into large performing arts centers and historic movie palaces by local presenters, the largest being Broadway Across America, which operates in more than 40 venues in the United States and Canada and pioneered the touring subscription model.

    As of October 1, 2026, the Broadway League's tour listings include Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King, SIX, & Juliet, Buena Vista Social Club and The Phantom of the Opera, and The Outsiders tour lists more than 40 cities into September 2027. Hadestown has a non-Equity tour scheduled into June 2027.

    Tour engagements are short. The Phantom of the Opera's 2026–2027 itinerary, for example, books most cities for about two weeks. Local season subscribers usually get first access, so single tickets for a popular title can be thin by the time general sales open, and the resale market fills the gap. Seat advice on tour depends on the host theater: a deep balcony in a 2,500-seat touring house is much farther from the stage than the mezzanine in a Broadway house.

    Choosing Seats for a Musical

    A Broadway house has three main levels: the orchestra (the ground floor), the mezzanine (the first raised level, often split into front and rear) and, in some theaters, a balcony. For a musical, the right level depends on the staging.

    • Dance-heavy shows. MJ the Musical and other choreography-driven productions read better from the front mezzanine, where you see formations and the full stage floor.
    • Big designs. Hamilton's set uses two concentric turntables; the patterns they create are clearest from slightly above. The Outsiders stages its rumble in falling rain, which plays most strongly from the orchestra.
    • Intimate scores. Hadestown is a folk-scored show in the Walter Kerr, which seats only about 945, so even the rear mezzanine feels close.
    • Very large houses. At the 1,933-seat Gershwin, the last rows of the rear mezzanine are a long way from the stage. Center orchestra or front mezzanine is worth paying for at Wicked.
    • Seats to question. Extreme side seats in the front rows can lose one edge of the stage, and rear orchestra rows under a deep mezzanine overhang can cut off the top of a tall set.

    A good default for almost any musical is the first five rows of the center front mezzanine, which combine a full view with clear sound.

    When Demand Peaks

    • Holiday weeks. Thanksgiving week and the stretch from Christmas to New Year's are typically the hardest dates to buy, and family titles like The Lion King and Aladdin go first.
    • Weekends. Saturday evening is the hardest performance to buy; Tuesday through Thursday evenings and Wednesday matinees are the easiest.
    • Awards season. The Tony Awards in June lift demand for the winners, often for months.
    • Closing announcements. When a show sets a closing date, final weeks sell fast. The Phantom of the Opera pushed its Broadway closing from February 18 to April 16, 2023 after attendance surged. SIX and & Juliet are in that phase as of fall 2026.
    • Casting news. A star joining or leaving a long-running show moves demand for the specific weeks that star performs.

    For discount routes such as digital lotteries, rush and the TKTS booth, see the Broadway guide.

    First-Timer Notes

    Running times vary. The Lion King runs about 2 hours 30 minutes with one intermission, and The Outsiders about 2 hours 25 minutes; SIX runs about 80 minutes with no intermission. Age guidance is set by each production: The Lion King and Aladdin recommend ages 6 and up and do not admit children under 4, and SIX recommends ages 10 and up. Every guest needs a ticket regardless of age.

    Check what is playing before you build a trip around a title. The Broadway League keeps current listings of shows on Broadway and touring productions.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the longest-running musical on Broadway right now?

    Among shows still running, The Lion King (opened November 1997) and the revival of Chicago the Musical (opened November 1996) are the longest-running. Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

    Is Chess still on Broadway?

    No. The revival with a new book by Danny Strong closed at the Imperial Theatre on June 21, 2026 after 241 performances.

    When do SIX and & Juliet close on Broadway?

    Both have announced Broadway closing dates of January 3, 2027. SIX continues on a North American tour, and & Juliet has toured North America since 2024.

    Are orchestra seats always best for a musical?

    No. For dance-heavy shows and large designs, the front mezzanine often gives a better overall view. The orchestra is best for intimacy and for effects staged close to the audience.

    How long does a touring musical stay in one city?

    Usually a few weeks. The Phantom of the Opera's 2026–2027 North American tour, for example, books most cities for about two weeks.

    Sources

    Card and header photos come from Wikimedia Commons contributors under Creative Commons or public-domain terms. Artist and license for each one are listed on the photo credits page.