Long-running plays
This is a selected list of the longest-running plays, that is non-musical theatre productions, in history.
| Title | Creator | Performances | Year Opened | Year Closed | Country | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bald Soprano / The Lesson | Eugène Ionesco | 20,000+ | 1957 | currently running |  France |
Paris,Théâtre de la Huchette | Theatre of the Absurd |
| Horn in the West | Kermit Hunter | 1952 | currently running |  United States of America |
Boone, North Carolina | outdoor drama; performed each summer | |
| Life with Father | Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse | 3,224 | 1939 | 1947 | United States of America |
New York City, Broadway, Empire Theatre | longest running straight play in Broadway history; premiered at Empire Theater and also played at Bijou Theatre (1945–1947) and Alvin Theatre (1947) |
| Line | Israel Horovitz | 3,300+ | 1974 | 2018 | United States of America |
New York City, Off-off-Broadway, 13th Street Repertory Theatre | absurdist drama; only played once or twice a week with an irregular schedule |
| The Lost Colony | Paul Green | 5,000+ | 1937 | currently running | United States of America |
Manteo, North Carolina | outdoor drama; performed each summer |
| The Mousetrap | Agatha Christie | 30,000+ | 1952 | currently running |  United Kingdom |
West End, London, St Martin's Theatre | murder mystery; longest running play in world history; Previously played at the Ambassadors Theatre (1952–1974) |
| Oberammergau Passion Play | Rochus Dedler, Eugen Papst, and others | 1634 | currently running |  Germany |
Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany | passion play; performed in summer each decadal year since 1680 with a few exceptions. | |
| Perfect Crime | Warren Manzi | 15,000+ | 1987 | currently running | United States of America |
New York City, Off-Broadway, The Theater Center | murder mystery; lead Catherine Russell has performed in the play since 1987 and has only missed four performances. |
| The Ramona Pageant | Helen Hunt Jackson | 1923 | currently running | United States of America |
Hemet, California | outdoor drama; runs each April and May on weekends | |
| Shear Madness | Paul Pörtner | 12,580 | 1980 | 2020 | United States of America |
Boston, Massachusetts, Charles Playhouse Stage II | interactive whodunit |
| Shear Madness | Paul Pörtner | 14,737 | 1987 | 2026 | United States of America |
Washington, DC, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Theater Lab | interactive whodunit; longest running play in American history |
| Unto These Hills | Kermit Hunter; Hanay Geiogamah | 1950 | currently running | United States of America |
Cherokee, North Carolina | outdoor drama; performed each summer |
References
- ↑ "Paris theatre shares secrets of staging same play for record-breaking 67 years". RFI. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ "Unbroken "Line": 22 Years at 13th Street Repertory Company". www.backstage.com. 2001-02-21. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ "Off-Off-Broadway's Little-Known Longest-Running Show Reopens Tonight". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ Colony, The Lost (2024-07-17). "The 5000th Performance of The Lost Colony". The Lost Colony. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- 1 2 Editorial, West End Theatre (2025-03-19). "The Mousetrap celebrates 30,000 performances in the West End [Updated] | West End Theatre". Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ "NYC's Longest-Running Play 'Perfect Crime' Celebrates 15,000 Performances". Calssicalite. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ "Coffee and love: Actress shares secrets to nearly 30 sick-free years". TODAY.com. 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ "Celebrating 40 Years of "Shear Madness" at Boston's Charles Playhouse | Performing Arts World". www.performingarts.world. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ Hertvik, Nicole (2026-06-08). "'Shear Madness' is closing. Long live 'Shear Madness.'". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ Barnes, Steve (2026-06-08). "Locally created play ends Kennedy Center run after 39 years". Times Union. Retrieved 2026-06-15.