Broadway

It takes pluck, luck, a mountain of greenbacks and a dash of star power to get a show to opening night on Broadway. But as every theater lover knows, every now and then that effort yields a long-running megahit. To make a classic Broadway performance it might take a powerful story (Les Misérables), a memorable score (The Phantom of the Opera), ties to pop stardom (Jersey Boys) or pure hilarity (The Book of Mormon), but whatever the magic combination of ingredients, it's no secret that some shows just have it. Here are a few of the spectacles that have entertained Broadway fans for years—sometimes even decades—able to survive revolving casts, evolving musical tastes and economic upheaval on their way to legendary theater status.