Les Miserables, Broadway’s longest running musical, while close in March, 3 days after it’s 16th anniversary.
I’m a little faklempt.
Les Miserables, neither les, nor miserable. Discuss.
It was still going?
Slightly off the subject, I downloaded the book from Project Gutenberg and have been reading it on my Palm Pilot in my spare moments at work. I’ve been going at it for several months now, and I’m still only about 2/3 of the way through. These old-timey books were verbose.
I’ve done the same thing, smeg and after a year or so, I’m only about 1/2 way through.
To be fair, I do often forget that it’s there for months on end…
I’m very saddened by the show closing. It was definately the best thing on broadway. 
Saw it 4 times, and would gladly go again…
I’ve only seen it twice, but it is by far my favorite Broadway play. I’m sad that it’s closing.
“To love another person
is to see the face of G-D. . .”
Always makes me cry. Hell, I’m sniffling now.
What a weenie I am.
–
Justin
[nitpick]Les Misérables is Broadway’s current longest-running show (opened in 1987, I believe). The record for longest-running show ever is held by CATS, which opened on Broadway October 7, 1982 and closed in September of 2000. It beat the previous record holder, A Chorus Line, in 1997. The London West End production closed in 2002, 21 years to the day it opened.[/nitpick]
According to today’s Times, “Les Miz” is just the latest victim of 9/11. Newer Broadway shows can make money with just the theater buffs of the New York Metropolitan area, but older shows rely on tourists to fill their seats. Since 9/11, tourism in New York has fallen drastically.
This doesn’t bode well for other long-running shows, or for revivals.
For the record, the article I read said Les Miz is currently second-longest behind Cats (in terms of performances, not dates) and Phantom will be in third place by October.
Too bad. I enjoyed that show and so did lots of people I know. Well, I 'm sure I will have a chance to see a touring company version of it again someday. Unless you have a desire to see a new show with a big name, the touring companies can be just as satisfying.
I loved this show when it first came out in the late 80’s, but i also think its time has come. Shows really shouldnt run on indefinitely. I’d much rather see newer works constantly coming in to keep Broadway fresh and new.
And to be fair, Les Mis was starting to look a little creaky and tired, at least in recent months. Last I heard, they even cut the shows running time down to cut costs. Now if only Phantom can be retired as well…
Kinda sad. I saw it a few years back. Last summer, my wife and I went to NYC to take in some shows. It was her first time in the big city. I wanted to see some new shows, but picked one I had seen to take her to. I chose Phantom over Les Mis. I love both, but always assumed I’d take her to Les Mis next time. Might have to book a trip before March.
Either that or wait for the touring company. They are just as good. Well, maybe not to the theater critic/expert, but to my sorry butt it all sounds the same.