#84: Lightnin' & the demise of long-running plays with Jordan Schildcrout

Chasing Phantom

The chase is back on! Welcome to season 2 of the podcast dedicated to exploring...and sometimes explaining...Broadway's longest running shows!
Today's episode features a true Broadway history whiz: author, dramaturg & professor Jordan Schildcrout has studied long-running plays in more depth than perhaps anyone else on the planet. In his book, "In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays," Dr. Schildcrout looks at the Broadway landscape over more than 100 years, going deep on the longest running plays in each decade. It's a fascinating and super fun read filled with unexpected facts and interesting context. You can find out more about it at broadwayinthelongrun.com.
I asked Jordan to come on the podcast to talk about a show that has completely fallen off the radar of theater fans but that still stands as a breakthrough in history. "Lightnin'" was the first production to ever run more than 1,000 consecutive performances on Broadway after it opened back in 1918.
Though you may not know the play, you'll still want to listen in on our conversation exploring what the play's success said about the changes in professional theater at the time and what has happened to the long-running play since.
For links to video and some additional info on "Lightnin'," check out this episode's post on ChasingPhantom.net. You can also access previous episodes of the podcast and find more fun facts and information. Be sure to check out ChasingPhantom.net. We'll be back in 2 weeks!