The musical Gypsy debuted on Broadway in 1959 and it has been revived there four times since — in 1974, 1989, 2003, and 2008. In case you're wondering, the five ladies who opened those productions as Mama Rose were, in order, Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone. Another revival which would star Imelda Staunton, has seemed imminent for a while but Ms. Staunton is currently in a revival of Follies at London's National Theatre.
Four revivals so far but it somehow feels like more. There are certain shows that always seem to be about to reopen. If you asked me to guess what show has had the most resurrections on the Great White Way, I'd say either Fiddler on the Roof or Guys and Dolls…and I'd be wrong both times. They've each had five revivals and there are two shows that have had six and one that's been revived seven times!
Do not click on this link until you've made your guesses. Then click on the link and find out.
(And if you guess Chicago, you're even wronger than I was. That show's only had one revival on Broadway. Okay, so it's been running there for more than twenty years with no end in sight…but it's still only the first revival. There may not be a second one because this one may never close.)