76 shows opened on Broadway in the 1850s.

Shows that opened in the 1850s closed faster than in any other decade: half of them were done within 12 performances.

The Elves, by Charles Selby, opened March 16, 1857 at Laura Keenes Theatre and ran 50 performances, the longest run to open in the 1850s.

The years

1850	2 openings
1851	8 openings Faustus opened, ran 41 performances
1852	7 openings Paul Clifford opened, ran 18 performances
1853	6 openings First Come- First Served opened, ran 6 performances
1854	6 openings Faustus opened, ran 18 performances
1855	13 openings King Charming opened, ran 34 performances
1856	4 openings Hiawatha opened, ran 24 performances
1857	10 openings The Elves opened, ran 50 performances
1858	7 openings The Bohemian Girl opened, ran 4 performances
1859	13 openings Lalla Rookh opened, ran 30 performances