Top 10 Broadway Shows That Require the Most Stamina

While it’s a monumentally moving production, this seminal Broadway classic is also very demanding. “Les Miz” requires a lot from everyone. The ensemble has to maintain their voices while cycling through an endless series of strong emotions throughout the entire production. The crew, meanwhile, needs to make its various transitions feel seamless. There are costume swaps, scenery changes, and a huge score to get through. With a show this epic, the audience isn’t off the hook either. Between its longing ballads, epic romance, heartbreaking deaths, and roughly three hour runtime, it can be taxing even if you’re just sitting in the dark watching it.

This lauded musical about a group of dancers desperate to book a chorus part was once the longest-running show on Broadway. The thing about “A Chorus Line” is that its themes demand a high level of conformity in its group numbers. At a certain point, the dancers in the show aren’t really meant to stand out. All movements must be a near-perfect match. Fortunately, there are enough solos that some of the performers manage to get a few breaks in. But those are often some of the most emotionally wrenching parts of the story. Then, it’s back to dancing.

Ahead of its official opening night in June 2011, the insanely expensive Spider-Man musical was already raising eyebrows. More controversial than its unconventional source material was its highly involved and often dangerous choreography. “Turn Off the Dark” is a full-out spectacle. Every night, its team was expected to make gravity-defying highwire stunts look effortless. It takes a lot of core strength to do aerial work as intricate as this, and the original Broadway production became notorious for the amount of injuries its ensemble sustained. After a while, it probably took a lot of effort just to work up the courage to step out on stage.

Even marketing images for “Newsies” showcase performers in mid-air, so you know this is a high octane production. This crowd-pleaser about a group of newspaper boys trying to unionize probably has one of the fittest ensembles ever to hit a Broadway stage. But this cast doesn’t just have to dance. They spend almost the entire time twirling, jumping, and racing up and down fire escapes while maintaining crystal clear diction. And they have to do all that while often still keeping their hats on. The amount of money these Newsies spend on gym memberships alone could probably fund a whole other show.

Cole Porter’s seafaring comedy is one of the few holdovers from the early days of musical theater. It’s been revised a lot since then. One thing that hasn’t changed much since its premiere is how difficult it is to do it justice. Full of breezy songs and fancy footwork, the trick to selling the production is making it look easy. Of course, it’s anything but. The title number alone is a nightmare. The actress playing Reno Sweeney has to honor each and every one of Porter’s fast-paced lyrics all while holding her own with a chorus of tap dancers. There’s a lot of sweat behind all that smiling.

It may have a reputation as one of the more confusing and borderline nonsensical Broadway megahits, but there’s a reason “Cats” is so beloved. Since its premiere, audiences have been dazzled by the show’s agile and furry-footed ensemble. The creative team behind the original West End production knew that the dancing was essential in making it work. So, it was designed as a massive showcase for artists who could master all sorts of styles, and perform the steps in a way that also mimics the distinct way a cat moves. No one said being Jellicle was easy.

Disney’s Tony-winning adaptation of the 1994 animated classic is one of the biggest musicals ever in almost every way. Not only is it the most financially successful production in Broadway history, but it has an incredibly large creative team. It takes 50 performers and about 100 crew to make a performance happen every night. Throughout, its ensemble must sing and act while donning huge masks and costumes. The choreography by itself would be challenging, but many of its ensemble members must also give life to onstage animals in the form of intricate puppets. This illusion requires superhuman precision, flexibility, and dexterity.

Considering how peppy and positive the dance-crazy Tracy Turnblad is for the entire story, “Hairspray” has got to be one of the hardest productions to carry. Given that it’s about a teen dance show, you can bet that the grooving is a major high point here, and there’s a whole lot of it. In fact, it’s almost wall-to-wall upbeat songs. It’s got ‘60s novelty dances galore and big hair that look like they weigh a ton. Then after hours of all that, the cast is on hand for one of the most breathless, most energizing finales ever. It’s not for the weak.

There are a few reasons this Andrew Lloyd Webber extravaganza is not as well known as some of his other efforts. This story of anthropomorphic trains falling in love and facing extinction by the modern diesel engine is a musical, romance, and light show all in one. Its most famous and challenging requirement of its cast is that they must all perform in roller skates. To top it all off, it also features costumes that are bulky and heavy to lug around, with some productions featuring garments that can weigh anywhere between 35 and 50 pounds.

The original conceit behind this musical was to blend the timeless love story of “Romeo and Juliet” with a modern sensibility. Jerome Robbins’ “West Side Story” choreography skewed toward ballet, employing jazzier movements for the more dangerous scenes between its rival gangs. Through the years, it’s been updated and reinterpreted to make way for different styles of dance, but it’s always a show where movement is integral to the storytelling. Its legendary choreography, combined with its runtime and the tragic love story at its center, makes “West Side Story” an endurance test for its cast.

Which of these shows looks like the biggest workout? Tell us in the comments.