Thriller Live has entered the record books to officially become the 20th longest running musical in West End history!
Recently it overtook the records set by the legendary stage musicals The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady, who have now dropped forever out of the Top 20.
Thriller Live has played 2391 perfornances at the Lyric Theatre (as at Wednesday September 24). It is just 138 performances away from overtaking the record set by the 1993 revival of Grease (which ran 2529 performances before closing) and just 227 from leap frogging the original 1960 production of Oliver! (2,618 performances). In 2015 it will beat the record set up Evita, which closed after 2,900 performances at the Prince Edward Theatre.
As it continues its sensational record-breaking 6th year in the West End, the producers of Thriller Live announced earlier this month that the show was further extending its booking period to 6 September 2015. It had been booking to 26 April.
Producers Paul Walden & Derek Nicol said in a statement today: “We are thrilled that Thriller Live has entered the record books and joined the exalted ranks of the 20 most popular long running shows in the history of the West End. We look forward to breaking more records in 2015!”
Thriller Live continues to set and break records and new territories around the globe. To date it has now performed to standing ovations in 28 countries from South Korea to Norway, and South America to China. The latest world tour will take in Australia and New Zealand for the first time.
In October, Thriller Live will open in the UK, playing Eden Court Theatre, Inverness (20 - 25 October), Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (27 October - 1 November), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (3 - 8 November), Grand Theatre, Wolvehampton (11 - 15 November). The cast then move to Australia where it will premiere in Perth then play Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, then stop off for two weeks in New Zealand. More dates will be added in the regions.
In London, Thriller Live is the longest-running production in the Lyric Theatre’s 125-year history. It first moonwalked into the West End in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours. When Michael Jackson died, the Lyric became a focus for fans from all over the world, who created a massive shrine of flowers, candles, and tributes.
Thriller Live brings to life on stage the distinctive high-energy dancing and pulsating sound of many of pop’s greatest hits, blending eye- popping video footage and effects together with dazzling choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd.
Thriller Live was originally conceived and created by Adrian Grant, a long time associate of Michael Jackson, and author ofMichael Jackson – The Visual Documentary. It is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with Adrian Grant for Key Concerts.
The Top 20 Longest-Running Musicals in West End History
1. Les Mis̩rables Рstill running, over 11,963 performances
2. The Phantom of the Opera – still running, over 11,632
3. Blood Brothers (closed, 10,013 performances)
4. Cats (closed, 8,949 performances)
5. Starlight Express (closed, 7,406 performances)
6. Mamma Mia! – still running, over 6,479 performances
7. Disney’s The Lion King still running, over 6250 performances
8. Chicago (closed, 6,187)
9. Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (closed, 5,140)
10. We Will Rock You – (closed, 4,659)
11. Miss Saigon (original 1989 production / closed 4,264)
12. Billy Elliot The Musical – still running, over 3,952)
13. Wicked – still running, over 3,358 performances
14. Jesus Christ Superstar (original 1972 production / closed - 3,357)
15. Me and My Girl (1985 revival / closed – 3,303)
16. Evita (original 1978 production / closed – 2,900 performances)
17. Jersey Boys – still running, over 2739 performances
18. Oliver! (original 1960 production / closed – 2,618 performances)
19. Grease! (1993 revival / closed - 2529 performances)
20. Thriller Live – still running, over 2391 performances
Information supplied & verified by the Society of London Theatre
correct as at 24 September 2014
