List of the shortest-running Broadway shows

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This is a list of Broadway shows with 20 or fewer regular performances. The list only includes shows that had open-ended runs or limited runs that ended earlier than planned. The shows must have officially opened on Broadway, and thus productions that closed during previews are not included.

Unless otherwise noted, the run count listed is for the original Broadway production of the show. M denotes a musical, P denotes a straight play, R denotes revue, D denotes a predominantly dance musical, and S denotes a special case.

No. Title Type Opening
date		 Closing
date		 Perfs. Prevs. Comment Ref.
1. A Broadway Musical M December 21, 1978 December 21, 1978 1 14 [1]
1. A Teaspoon Every Four Hours P June 14, 1969 June 14, 1969 1 97 Opening night was originally scheduled for April 3, 1969, and was delayed multiple times. [2]
1. Billy M March 22, 1969 March 22, 1969 1 21 [3]
1. Blood Red Roses M March 22, 1970 March 22, 1970 1 20 [4]
1. Break a Leg R April 29, 1979 April 29, 1979 1 12 [5]
1. Brightower P January 28, 1970 January 28, 1970 1 7 [6]
1. Broadway Follies R March 15, 1981 March 15, 1981 1 14 [7]
1. Cleavage M June 23, 1982 June 23, 1982 1 6 [8]
1. The Cuban Thing P September 24, 1968 September 24, 1968 1 12 [9]
1. Dance a Little Closer M May 11, 1983 May 11, 1983 1 25 [10]
1. Eyes P May 19, 1930 May 19, 1930 1 [11]
1. Fame P November 18, 1974 November 18, 1974 1 8 [12]
1. Father's Day P March 16, 1971 March 16, 1971 1 16 Second of Oliver Hailey's three Broadway plays, all of which closed on opening night. Nominated for two Tonys, including Jo Mielziner for Best Scenic Design and Marian Seldes for Best Actress. Seldes also won a Drama Desk award for Outstanding Performance. [13]
1. First One Asleep, Whistle P February 26, 1966 February 26, 1966 1 13 First of three Broadway plays written by Oliver Hailey, all of which closed on opening night. [14]
1. Frank Merriwell M April 24, 1971 April 24, 1971 1 7 [15]
1. Frankenstein P January 4, 1981 January 4, 1981 1 29 [16]
1. Gandhi P October 20, 1970 October 20, 1970 1 [17]
1. Gantry M February 14, 1970 February 14, 1970 1 31 [18]
1. The Garden of Sweets P October 31, 1961 October 31, 1961 1 1 [19]
1. Glory Days M May 6, 2008 May 6, 2008 1 17 [20]
1. The Goodbye People (1979 revival) P April 30, 1979 April 30, 1979 1 16 The original production ran for 7 performances [21]
1. Gorey Stories: An Entertainment with Music P October 30, 1978 October 30, 1978 1 16 [22]
1. Happiness Is Just a Little Thing Called a Rolls Royce P May 11, 1968 May 11, 1968 1 3 [23]
1. Have I Got A Girl For You! P December 30, 1963 December 30, 1963 1 [24]
1. Heathen! M May 21, 1972 May 21, 1972 1 6 [25]
1. Here's Where I Belong M March 3, 1968 March 3, 1968 1 20 [26]
1. Home Sweet Homer M January 4, 1976 January 4, 1976 1 11 [27]
1. I Won't Dance P May 10, 1981 May 10, 1981 1 7 Third and final Broadway play by written by Oliver Hailey, all of which closed on opening night [28]
1. Johnny No-Trump P October 8, 1967 October 8, 1967 1 5 [29]
1. Julia, Jake and Uncle Joe P January 28, 1961 January 28, 1961 1 [30]
1. Kelly M February 6, 1965 February 6, 1965 1 7 [31]
1. La Strada M December 14, 1969 December 14, 1969 1 12 [32]
1. Let Me Hear You Smile P January 16, 1973 January 16, 1973 1 8 [33]
1. Little Johnny Jones (1982 revival) M March 21, 1982 March 21, 1982 1 29 The original production ran for 52 performances [34]
1. Masquerade P March 16, 1959 March 16, 1959 1 [35]
1. Me and Thee P December 7, 1965 December 7, 1965 1 7 [36]
1. A Meeting by the River P March 28, 1979 March 28, 1979 1 10 [37]
1. The Moony Shapiro Songbook M May 3, 1981 May 3, 1981 1 15 [38]
1. Moose Murders P February 22, 1983 February 22, 1983 1 13 [39]
1. The Mother Lover P February 1, 1969 February 1, 1969 1 13 [40]
1. The Natural Look P March 11, 1967 March 11, 1967 1 18 [41]
1. Ned and Jack P November 8, 1981 November 8, 1981 1 10 [42]
1. No Hard Feelings P April 8, 1973 April 8, 1973 1 21 [43]
1. Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All P November 17, 2003 November 17, 2003 1 19 [44]
1. Once There Was a Russian P February 18, 1961 February 18, 1961 1 1 [45]
1. Onward Victoria M December 14, 1980 December 14, 1980 1 23 Closing notice already in place on the night the play opened. [46]
1. A Place for Polly P April 18, 1970 April 18, 1970 1 9 [47]
1. Play Me a Country Song M June 27, 1982 June 27, 1982 1 14 [48]
1. Rainbow Jones M February 13, 1974 February 13, 1974 1 3 [49]
1. Ring Around the Bathtub P April 29, 1972 April 29, 1972 1 3 [50]
1. The Ritz (1983 revival) P May 2, 1983 May 2, 1983 1 14 The original production ran for 398 performances [51]
1. Stages P March 19, 1978 March 19, 1978 1 13 [52]
1. Step on a Crack P October 17, 1962 October 17, 1962 1 1 [53]
1. Take Me Along (1985 revival) M April 14, 1985 April 14, 1985 1 7 The original production ran for 448 performances [54]
1. Total Abandon P April 28, 1983 April 28, 1983 1 7 [55]
1. The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall M May 13, 1979 May 13, 1979 1 7 [56]
1. The Watering Place P March 12, 1969 March 12, 1969 1 6 [57]
1. Wild and Wonderful M December 7, 1971 December 7, 1971 1 9 [58]
59. The Cool World P February 22, 1960 February 23, 1960 2 [59]
59. Gabrielle P March 25, 1941 March 26, 1941 2 [60]
59. Medea and Jason P October 2, 1974 October 2, 1974 2 10 The show opened on a matinée performance and closed after the evening performance that same day. [61]
59. Signature P February 14, 1945 February 15, 1945 2 [62]
59. Springtime Folly P February 26, 1951 February 27, 1951 2 [63]
59. Teaneck Tanzi: The Venus Flytrap P April 20, 1983 April 20, 1983 2 13 The show opened on a matinée performance and closed after the evening performance that same day. [64]
65. Cafe Crown M April 17, 1964 April 17, 1964 3 30 [65]
65. Into the Whirlwind P November 15, 1996 November 16, 1996 3 The production played in repertory with The Three Sisters at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Both were performed in Russian. [66]
65. Nathan Weinstein, Mystic, Connecticut P February 25, 1966 February 26, 1966 3 4 [67]
65. Oh, Brother! M November 10, 1981 November 11, 1981 3 13 [68]
65. Portofino M February 21, 1958 February 22, 1958 3 [69]
65. Requiem for a Heavyweight P March 7, 1985 March 9, 1985 3 8 John Lithgow was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor In a Play for his performance. [70]
65. Soon M January 12, 1971 January 13, 1971 3 21 [71]
65. Ti-coq P February 9, 1951 February 10, 1951 3 [72]
65. The Yearling M December 10, 1965 December 11, 1965 3 11 [73]
65. Your Loving Son P April 4, 1941 April 5, 1941 3 [74]
74. A Race of Hairy Men! P April 29, 1965 May 1, 1965 4 12 [75]
74. All You Need Is One Good Break P February 9, 1950 February 11, 1950 4 [76]
74. The Barrier M November 2, 1950 November 4, 1950 4 [77]
74. Bosoms and Neglect P May 3, 1979 May 5, 1979 4 7 [78]
74. Bring Back Birdie M March 5, 1981 March 7, 1981 4 31 [79]
74. But, Seriously... P February 27, 1969 March 1, 1969 4 13 [80]
74. Children From Their Games P April 11, 1963 April 13, 1963 4 2 [81]
74. Conscience P May 15, 1952 May 17, 1952 4 [82]
74. Einstein and the Polar Bear P October 29, 1981 October 31, 1981 4 20 [83]
74. Good as Gold P March 7, 1957 March 9, 1957 4 [84]
74. Horses in Midstream P April 2, 1953 April 4, 1953 4 [85]
74. The Fig Leaves Are Falling M January 2, 1969 January 6, 1969 4 17 Dorothy Loudon was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the show. [86]
74. In the Counting House P December 13, 1962 December 15, 1962 4 2 [87]
74. The Innkeepers P February 2, 1956 February 4, 1956 4 [88]
74. Late Nite Comic M October 15, 1987 October 17, 1987 4 15 [89]
74. Minor Miracle P October 7, 1965 October 9, 1965 4 11 [90]
74. Murder at the Howard Johnson's P May 17, 1979 May 20, 1979 4 10 [91]
74. Rags M August 21, 1986 August 23, 1986 4 18 Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical [92]
74. The Roast P May 8, 1980 May 10, 1980 4 9 [93]
74. Song of the Grasshopper P September 28, 1967 September 30, 1967 4 4 [94]
74. Xmas in Las Vegas P November 4, 1965 November 6, 1965 4 9 [95]
74. Rob Lake Magic With Special Guests The Muppets S November 6, 2025 November 16, 2025 4 20 This marked the debut of The Muppets on Broadway [96]
96. Agatha Sue, I Love You P December 14, 1966 December 17, 1966 5 2 [97]
96. A Doll's Life M September 23, 1982 September 26, 1982 5 18 [98]
96. Angel M May 10, 1978 May 13, 1978 5 6 Frances Sternhagen was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical [99]
96. Be Your Age P January 14, 1953 January 17, 1953 5 [100]
96. Carrie M May 12, 1988 May 15, 1988 5 16 [101]
96. Charlotte P February 27, 1980 March 1, 1980 5 20 [102]
96. Devour the Snow P November 7, 1979 November 10, 1979 5 8 [103]
96. Diamond Orchid P February 10, 1965 February 13, 1965 5 1 [104]
96. Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? M May 27, 1982 May 30, 1982 5 15 [105]
96. The Exercise P April 24, 1968 April 27, 1968 5 10 [106]
96. The Gingham Dog P April 23, 1969 April 26, 1969 5 19 [107]
96. Happy Town M October 7, 1959 October 10, 1959 5 [108]
96. Legend P May 13, 1976 May 15, 1976 5 18 [109]
96. The Life of Reilly P April 29, 1942 May 2, 1942 5 [110]
96. Look, We've Come Through P October 25, 1961 October 28, 1961 5 [111]
96. More to Love P October 15, 1998 October 17, 1998 5 16 [112]
96. Park M April 22, 1970 April 25, 1970 5 5 [113]
96. Peg: A Musical Autobiography M December 14, 1983 December 17, 1983 5 13 [114]
96. Play Memory P April 26, 1984 April 29, 1984 5 7 [115]
96. Prymate P May 5, 2004 May 8, 2004 5 22 [116]
96. Raggedy Ann M October 16, 1986 October 19, 1986 5 15 [117]
96. The Red Shoes M December 16, 1993 December 19, 1993 5 51 [118]
96. Ring Two P November 22, 1939 November 25, 1939 5 [119]
96. See the Jaguar P December 3, 1952 December 6, 1952 5 [120]
96. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers M July 8, 1982 July 11, 1982 5 15 [121]
96. Star-Spangled Family P April 10, 1945 April 13, 1945 5 [122]
96. The Story of My Life M February 19, 2009 February 22, 2009 5 19 [123]
96. The Sudden and Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson P December 18, 1968 December 21, 1968 5 3 [124]
96. The Three Sisters P November 7, 1996 November 13, 1996 5 The production played in repertory with Into the Whirlwind at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Both were performed in Russian. [125]
96. Woman Bites Dog P April 17, 1946 April 20, 1946 5 [126]
96. Zelda P March 5, 1969 March 8, 1969 5 10 [127]
127. Carnival in Flanders M September 8, 1953 September 12, 1953 6 Leading lady Dolores Gray won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, thus holding the record for Tony-winning performance with the briefest run. [128]
127. Horowitz and Mrs. Washington P April 2, 1980 April 6, 1980 6 10 [129]
127. Into the Light M October 22, 1986 October 26, 1986 6 13 [130]
127. The Performers P November 14, 2012 November 18, 2012 6 24 [131]
127. Siege P December 8, 1937 December 11, 1937 6 [132]
132. Buttrio Square M October 14, 1952 October 18, 1952 7 [133]
132. The Genius and the Goddess P December 10, 1957 December 14, 1957 7 [134]
132. The Goodbye People P December 3, 1968 December 7, 1968 7 16 A 1979 revival closed on opening night [135]
132. High P April 19, 2011 April 24, 2011 7 29 [136]
132. I'll Take The High Road P November 9, 1943 November 13, 1943 7 [137]
132. La Grosse Valise M December 14, 1965 December 18, 1965 7 12 [138]
132. The Night Circus P December 2, 1958 December 6, 1958 7 [139]
132. Patate P October 28, 1958 November 1, 1958 7 [140]
132. Rockabye Hamlet M February 17, 1976 February 21, 1976 7 21 [141]
132. Slapstick Tragedy P February 22, 1966 February 26, 1966 7 16 Zoe Caldwell won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in the show. [142]
132. Via Galactica M November 28, 1972 December 2, 1972 7 15 [143]
132. We Interrupt This Program... P April 1, 1975 April 5, 1975 7 21 [144]
132. The Wrong Way Light Bulb P March 4, 1969 March 8, 1969 7 17 [145]
145. American Buffalo P November 17, 2008 November 24, 2008 8 20 [146]
145. Arturo Ui P November 11, 1963 November 16, 1963 8 5 [147]
145. Dr. Cook's Garden P September 25, 1967 September 30, 1967 8 6 [148]
145. Drat! The Cat! M October 10, 1965 October 16, 1965 8 11 [149]
145. Got Tu Go Disco M June 25, 1979 June 30, 1979 8 9 [150]
145. It's So Nice to Be Civilized M June 3, 1980 June 8, 1980 8 23 [151]
145. Kiss Me, Kate (1952 revival) M January 8, 1952 January 13, 1952 8 The original production ran for 1,077 performances. [152]
145. The Leaf People P October 20, 1975 October 26, 1975 8 42 [153]
145. Love is a Time of Day P December 22, 1969 December 27, 1969 8 16 [154]
145. Voices P April 3, 1972 April 8, 1972 8 8 [155]
145. Who's Who in Hell P December 9, 1974 December 14, 1974 8 8 [156]
145. Women of Twilight P March 3, 1952 March 8, 1952 8 [157]
156. Ambassador M November 19, 1972 November 25, 1972 9 12 [158]
156. Anyone Can Whistle M April 4, 1964 April 11, 1964 9 12 [159]
156. The Blonde in the Thunderbird S July 17, 2005 July 23, 2005 9 10 The limited run was originally scheduled to end on September 3, 2005.[160] [161]
156. Brighton Beach Memoirs (2009 revival) P October 25, 2009 November 1, 2009 9 25 The original production ran for 1,299 performances [162]
156. Elling P November 21, 2010 November 28, 2010 9 22 [163]
156. The Lieutenant M March 9, 1975 March 16, 1975 9 7 Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical [164]
156. Nick & Nora M December 8, 1991 December 15, 1991 9 71 [165]
156. The Paisley Convertible P February 11, 1967 February 18, 1967 9 18 [166]
156. Rock 'N Roll! The First 5,000 Years R October 24, 1982 October 31, 1982 9 25 [167]
156. Safe Sex P April 5, 1987 April 12, 1987 9 21 [168]
156. The Three Musketeers (1984 revival) M November 11, 1984 November 18, 1984 9 15 The original production ran for 318 performances [169]
156. We Have Always Lived in the Castle M October 19, 1966 October 26, 1966 9 2 [170]
168. Cloud 7 M February 14, 1958 February 28, 1958 11 [171]
168. The Story of Mary Surratt P February 7, 1947 February 14, 1947 11 [172]
170. A Joyful Noise M December 15, 1966 December 24, 1966 12 4 [173]
170. The American Clock P November 20, 1980 November 30, 1980 12 11 [174]
170. Dreyfus in Rehearsal P October 17, 1974 October 26, 1974 12 3 [175]
170. Fearless Frank M June 15, 1980 June 25, 1980 12 13 [176]
170. P.S. I Love You P November 19, 1964 November 28, 1964 12 3 [177]
170. The Lady from Dubuque P January 31, 1980 February 9, 1980 12 8 [178]
170. Lolita P March 19, 1981 March 28, 1981 12 31 [179]
170. Saturday Sunday Monday P November 21, 1974 November 30, 1974 12 4 [180]
170. Seagulls Over Sorrento P September 11, 1952 September 20, 1952 12 [181]
170. The Secret Rapture P October 26, 1989 November 4, 1989 12 19 [182]
170. The Threepenny Opera M April 13, 1933 April 22, 1933 12 [183]
170. Wally's Cafe P June 12, 1981 June 21, 1981 12 31 [184]
170. What's Wrong With This Picture? P December 8, 1994 December 18, 1994 12 27 [185]
183. Great Day in the Morning P March 28, 1962 April 7, 1962 13 1 [186]
183. Macbeth (2000 revival) P June 15, 2000 June 25, 2000 13 8 The limited run ended 5 weeks earlier than originally planned.[187] [188]
183. Metro M April 16, 1992 April 26, 1992 13 24 [189]
183. Moby Dick P November 28, 1962 December 8, 1962 13 [190]
183. The Wiz (1984 Revival) M May 24, 1984 June 3, 1984 13 7 The original production ran for 1,672 performances. [191]
183. A Woman of Independent Means P May 3, 1984 May 13, 1984 13 12 [192]
189. Flare Path P December 23, 1942 January 2, 1943 14 [193]
189. High Fidelity M December 7, 2006 December 17, 2006 14 18 [194]
189. Jackie Mason's Laughing Room Only R November 19, 2003 November 30, 2003 14 31 [195]
189. Purlie (1972 Revival) M December 27, 1972 January 7, 1973 14 2 The original production ran for 688 performances. [196]
193. Captain Brassbound's Conversion (1951 Revival) P December 27, 1950 January 7, 1951 15 [197]
193. Last Licks P November 20, 1979 December 1, 1979 15 10 [198]
193. The Passion of Josef D. P February 11, 1964 February 22, 1964 15 1 [199]
196. The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public M May 10, 1994 May 22, 1994 16 28 [200]
196. Captain Brassbound's Conversion (1972 revival) P April 17, 1972 April 29, 1972 16 The original production ran for 14 performances in 1907; a 1951 revival ran for 15 performances. [201]
196. Dude M October 9, 1972 October 21, 1972 16 16 [202]
196. Enron P April 27, 2010 May 9, 2010 16 22 [203]
196. The Man Who Had Three Arms P April 5, 1983 April 17, 1983 16 8 [204]
196. Merrily We Roll Along M November 16, 1981 November 28, 1981 16 44 [205]
196. Nellie Bly M January 21, 1946 February 2, 1946 16 [206]
196. Oh, Kay! (1928 revival) M January 2, 1928 January 14, 1928 16 The original production ran for 256 performances [207]
196. Passione P September 23, 1980 October 5, 1980 16 11 [208]
205. Amour M October 20, 2002 November 3, 2002 17 31 Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical [209]
205. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2006 revival) P May 7, 2006 May 21, 2006 17 27 [210]
205. Charlie and Algernon M September 14, 1980 September 28, 1980 17 12 Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score [211]
205. KPOP M November 27, 2022 December 11, 2022 17 44 [212]
209. Leap of Faith M April 26, 2012 May 13, 2012 19 25 Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical [213]
209. Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen M December 28, 1970 January 9, 1971 19 3 [214]
211. All About Me M March 18, 2010 April 4, 2010 20 27 [215]
211. The Climate of Eden P November 6, 1952 November 22, 1952 20 [216]

Shows that closed during previews

The following shows started previews but did not officially open on Broadway:[217]

See also

References

Further reading

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