Longest Original Cast Members?

[theaterlyfe19]

So I was looking at the cast list for Waitress on playbill.com, and other shows (purely out of curiosity), and I noticed that Stephanie Torns has been with the show since it opened. I know she was also with it when it had its run at A.R.T. Christy Altomare and John Bolton have been with Anastasia since Hartford as well (so that gives them 3 years, I think?). That's a while to be with a show! But it makes me think about other long-running shows and ensemble members...like who has been with Hamilton since The Public....who has been in Wicked the longest....i know, i know, I can look online, but I'm choosing to ask if people know of any other examples?

[quizking101]

The most famous example is George Lee Andrews, who is the world record holder for most performances in a single Broadway show.

He was part of the original cast of PHANTOM and played 9382 performances over 23 years.

Marian Seldes also holds a record for most performances on Broadway without a break or vacation (“Most Durable Actress”) for having appeared in all 1792 performances of the original production of DEATHTRAP from 1978-1982

[theaterlyfe19]

quizking101 said: "The most famous example is George Lee Andrews, who is the world record holder for most performances in a single Broadway show.

He was part of the original cast of PHANTOM and played 9382 performances over 23 years.

Marian Seldes also holds a record for most performances on Broadway without a break or vacation (“Most Durable Actress&rdquo for having appeared in all 1792 performances of the original production of DEATHTRAP from 1978-1982"

WOW. I've also heard there's someone in Phantom who holds a record as well? Carlotta, maybe? Not sure...

[MannPhan24601]

Dan Stewart Sherman wrote on IG the other day that approxitmitly half of the closing cast of Kinky Boots was also OBC. Andy Kelso said in a interview last month that he had been affiliated for over 8 years from the early readings and now he's closing Charlie .








 

[theaterlyfe19]

Ooooooh and I think Tee Boyich had been with Mean Girls since very early readings like...as early as the first workshops in 2016. That's a long time to be involved with a show, especially since she didn't continue on in the lead as Cady (even if she got to be the standby). 

[theatretenor2]

A good majority of the Come From Away cast, I would think?

[Charley Kringas Inc]

I think the proper word is “tallest”.

[Tag]

Marlene Daniele, was with the entire original run of Cats.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

In terms of currently-running shows, Lewis Cleale has been in MORMON almost consistently since day 1, with the exception of some vacations and an injury.

Donna Marie Astbury has also been in CHICAGO about 20 years, but she’s not an original cast member

[BrodyFosse123]

Tag said: "Marlene Daniele, was with the entire original run of Cats."

Yup.  She did the entire 18 year run of CATS on Broadway from 1982 to 2000. 

 

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Thayne Jaspersin has been with Hamilton since 2015 I think.

[ACL2006]

theatretenor2 said: "A good majority of the Come From Away cast, I would think?"

Yes. 9 OBC remain in the show having recently celebrated their 2nd anniversary. 7 of those 9 did all 4 out-of-town tryouts.

[LizzieCurry]

I think John Eric Parker is also up there with Lewis Cleale at Mormon, though didn't he take a leave of absence for a bit last year?

[jaybee3907]

Lindiwe Dlamini is an original cast member of The Lion King and is still in the production.  I can't say specifically whether she took any breaks or not, but I'm assuming it's been all 21+ years.

[Mike Barrett]

Peter Gregus, Mark Lotito, and Sarah Schmidt were in the entire run of Jersey Boys, 15 years! Talk about finding steady work! 

[Wick3]

Jeff Loeffelholz was an original cast member of CHICAGO revival and remained with the show until his death last summer. 

[theaterlyfe19]

Mike Barrett said: "Peter Gregus, Mark Lotito, and Sarah Schmidt were in the entire run of Jersey Boys, 15 years! Talk about finding steady work!"

I am intrigued by the prospect of working on Broadway as an actor, but 15 years...you must really love the show/role to be in it for 15 years!

[IdinaBellFoster]

GottaHaveAGimmick said: "Thayne Jaspersin has been with Hamilton since 2015 I think."

Andrew Chapelle as well. 

[BrodyFosse123]

theaterlyfe19 said: "Mike Barrett said: "Peter Gregus, Mark Lotito, and Sarah Schmidt were in the entire run of Jersey Boys, 15 years! Talk about finding steady work!"

I am intrigued by the prospect of working on Broadway as an actor, but 15 years...you must really love the show/role to be in it for 15 years!"

Being a working actor is tough if not impossible.  Finding a steady gig, either in a successful Broadway show or TV series is like winning the lottery: you’re making a living.  Actors who remain in Broadway shows find their way of finding ways to keep it fresh to them whereas others don’t and move on as they get tired of the repetiveness.  It’s the same as people who stay at a job for 25 years and those who need to change jobs every 3-5 years as they get bored of doing the same thing.  It really isn’t about loving the show or role that much that you just can’t leave.  

[Wick3]

I agree with brodyfosse123. I never really knew what the life of an actor was like until I watched the Merrily documentary a few years ago. Sure, in your 20s it's fine to explore different kinds of jobs and perhaps go on tour etc. but I know for myself (I'm in my 30s), I'd prefer a more stable lifestyle the older I get and if I were an actor, I'd be happy on having a stable job with a 6-digit salary!

Minimum weekly salary for a Broadway actor is roughly $2,000 a week. Over 52 weeks in a year, that's at least $104,000 which to me is a lot of money!

 

 

[RWPrincess]

They weren't original cast members but Steve Blanchard played the Beast in BATB for 8 years and Alton Fitzgerald White played Mufasa in The Lion King for over 4300 performances.

I think the current casts of Beautiful, Aladdin, Dear Evan Hansen, and Anastasia all still have some original cast members. Both principals and ensemble members.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Wick3 said: "Minimum weekly salary for a Broadway actor is roughly $2,000 a week. Over 52 weeks in a year, that's at least $104,000 which to me is a lot of money!"
 

$104K is a great salary if you're making it consistently. But an actor never knows what their next "gig" is going to be... a Broadway show could close after 10 weeks and they then go a year+ without work. Or they work 2 months Off-Broadway/regionally for $400 a week. And if you're a "straight play" actor, most Broadway plays run 18 weeks or less. TV/film work is more lucrative but harder to book.

Also, life is expensive: subtract 10% for agent, 2.5% for Equity dues, housing in NYC ($25K per year but usually higher), voice/dance/acting classes, physical therapy, student loans, headshots, audition attire, etc. And if you're a dancer, your "shelf life" is going to be shorter than someone like Angela Lansbury.

So, I don't really blame someone who sticks with a show for 5+ years.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "In terms of currently-running shows, Lewis Cleale has been in MORMON almost consistently since day 1, with the exception of some vacations and an injury.

Donna Marie Astbury has also been in CHICAGO about 20 years, but she’s not an original cast member"

Donna Marie Asbury started with the show around 1999.  I think she toured before then.  Hopefully, she'll get her 20 years at the Ambassador.  Among the men of Chicago, Jason Patrick Sands has been with the show since after his run as "Don" in "A Chorus Line"...almost 11 years.  Surprisingly, he's leaving the show at the end of March.  

[carolinaguy]

Jennifer Laura Thompson has been with Dear Evan Hansen since the first reading in 2014.

[meredithchandler73]

Regarding the actor from PHANTOM (George Lee Andrews) - he played several different roles in that show over the years. I wonder how many of the people that have been with shows 10 years or more have played different roles and how many have done the same role.