On November 23, Chicago played its 7,486th performance on Broadway, thereby surpassing Cats as the second-longest-running show ever on Broadway.
Chicago opened on Broadway eighteen years ago, in November 1996. Since then, it has made over half a billion dollars, one of only five shows to do so (along with Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Wicked, and Mamma Mia!).
In those eighteen years, the show has been seen by seven and a half million people. It is not one of the big sellers on Broadway – average ticket price has been around $80, and it has only completely filled the theater during Christmas week in the last year. However, it pulls in about half a million dollars every week, which is enough to keep it running.
Cats, which is now the third-longest running show ever, once held the title of longest-running show. It took that title in 1997 (when Chicago was still new), played for another three years, and held onto the title until surpassed by Phantom of the Opera in 2006. Phantom remains the longest-running show by a large margin (nearing 27 years with no end in sight). Even if it closed right now, Chicago would not surpass it for another nine years.
For Chicago’s milestone performance, members of the original Broadway Cast will make cameo appearances in the show. This includes Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton, and Joel Grey, all of whom except Grey won Tony Awards for the show. Chicago itself won the Tony Award for Best Revival in 1997. Chicago is the longest-running revival ever, and the longest-running American musical ever. It holds both of these titles in the West End as well, where the production ran for almost fifteen years, and is the eleventh-longest running show ever.