How long does a Broadway show run for?

Question:This may seem like a DUMB question, but how long does the average Broadway show run? I want to but tickets for my friend and I am not sure how the production period works.

I want to get tickets for Young Frankenstein, but am not sure how long the show is running for. Is it possible for a show to end suddenly, even if people have tickets purchased for shows a few months in the future? I'm a total novice when it comes to the theater so excuse my ignorance. I know YF opened fairly recently, but I may end up getting tickets to a different show so I'm curious about shows in general as well.

As a side, if anyone has seen this production of YF... what did you think? I loved the movie and know Broadway is a totally different type of experience, but I'm curious what you all thought.

Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: This may seem like a DUMB question, but how long does the average Broadway show run? I want to but tickets for my friend and I am not sure how the production period works.

I want to get tickets for Young Frankenstein, but am not sure how long the show is running for. Is it possible for a show to end suddenly, even if people have tickets purchased for shows a few months in the future? I'm a total novice when it comes to the theater so excuse my ignorance. I know YF opened fairly recently, but I may end up getting tickets to a different show so I'm curious about shows in general as well.

As a side, if anyone has seen this production of YF... what did you think? I loved the movie and know Broadway is a totally different type of experience, but I'm curious what you all thought.

Thanks!

Well, it all depends on how successful the show is. Obviously, Phantom of the Opera was a big hit, so it stayed on broadway. I would think that if you already bought tickets, it would be VERY rare for them to cancel it due to reviews. If nobody bought tickets, though, then they would cancel it, but you would get your money back.

And Young Frankenstein sounds like a GREAT choice to go see. I know my mom and her partner are going to see it in a few months. I saw them on the Macy's parade, and the cast sounded wonderful. Broadway is a whole different experience, and usually it's a great one. There's so much energy, the sets and costumes are amazing, and the actors are so good, and usually you can tell they're having a blast. You'll definatly enjoy it. I hope you have fun! =)

most run for approx. 3 hours estimate but they go for at least the length of a pirates of the carribean movie (3 hours) but some can go for 1 hour

Some Broadway shows run for much longer than others, but you really don't have to worry about the show closing down before the night of your ticket reservation. I mean, seriously... how unprofessional would that be.

Btw, see Wicked and Phantom of the Opera, after the strikes are over.

Some shows run for hundreds, if not thousands of performances. Some are limited-runs, which means a set number of performances. Others go as long as ticket sales are strong enough. Those types of shows will close if they aren't selling tickets and are losing money.

That said--check to make sure it's running before you buy tickets. A lot of shows aren't playing because of the stagehands strike.

Welcome to the wonderful world of theater--there is NOTHING like it!

Check out www.playbill.com for all of your theater questions.

Shows run until the producers decide to close it -- generally when ticket sales are lagging and show no sign of picking up.

You'll notice when you go to buy tickets that you can only buy them up to a certain date. This is because there are no guarantees of how long the show will run, and the last thing a producer would want to do is sell someone a ticket for, say, two years later and then end up having to refund that ticket if the show closed earlier. Even mega-popular shows don't sell tickets past six months into the future.

I'd go with Young Frankenstein since it's a strong interest for you. I know a few people who are members of Local 1, and they've told me the strike will not be settled until next year. By the way, I'm not terribly supportive of this strike -- the minimum staffing they want on even smaller shows is ridiculous.

Shows run until they cease to make a profit. When the expenses of paying a huge cast and orchestra, landing a helicopter on stage, crashing a chandelier, or rotating the barricades (in Ms. Saigon, Phantom, and Les Mis) becomes more expensive than the ticket revenues generated by people in the audience, then a show will close. The stars will move on to other projects after about a year or so. So you won't be seeing Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in Phantom today

HOWEVER, long before it closes and is no longer selling at 100% capacity, you can get a $100 ticket for $51.50 at the TKTS booth in Times Square. Producers will also tour shows in order to make money and possibly generate interest in people who may be planning trips to NYC soon

Broadway shows range in different amounts. there was one show that lasted 12 days. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is only around for 3 months or so. Beauty and the Beast ran 13 years. It really all depends.

Hairspray will probably become more successful due to the movie. Wicked is very popular nowadays, and the little mermaid is sure to be a hit!