Broadway opened just 48 shows in 1978, and even those didn't last: half of those runs closed within 48 performances. Deathtrap, by Ira Levin, broke that pattern, running 1,793 performances, 37.4 times the median.
1978
50 shows opened on Broadway and in the West End in 1978.
Deathtrap, by Ira Levin, opened February 26, 1978 at Music Box Theatre and ran 1,793 performances.
Opened in 1978
UndatedJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Undated: 2 openings
| Unknown | Annie Victoria Palace Theatre, London | |
| Unknown | The Rear Column by Simon Gray Gielgud Theatre, London |
January: 5 openings
| January 9, 1978 | Do You Turn Somersaults? 46th Street Theatre, Broadway | 16 perf. |
| January 14, 1978 | The November People Billy Rose Theatre, Broadway | 1 perf. |
| January 15, 1978 | Cheaters Biltmore Theatre, Broadway | 33 perf. |
| January 19, 1978 | Paul Robeson Lunt Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | 77 perf. |
| January 31, 1978 | Elvis: The Legend Lives! Palace Theatre, Broadway | 101 perf. |
February: 3 openings
| February 19, 1978 | On the Twentieth Century St. James Theatre, Broadway | 449 perf. |
| February 26, 1978 | Deathtrap Music Box Theatre, Broadway | 1,793 perf. |
| February 28, 1978 | The Water Engine / Mr. Happiness Plymouth Theatre, Broadway | 24 perf. |
March: 7 openings
| March 1, 1978 | Timbuktu! Mark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway | 221 perf. |
| March 5, 1978 | Hello, Dolly! Lunt Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | 147 perf. |
| March 14, 1978 | The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Biltmore Theatre, Broadway | 16 perf. |
| March 16, 1978 | 13 Rue de l'Amour Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 77 perf. |
| March 19, 1978 | Stages Belasco Theatre, Broadway | 1 perf. |
| March 27, 1978 | Dancin' Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | 1,774 perf. |
| March 30, 1978 | A History of the American Film ANTA Theatre, Broadway | 5 perf. |
April: 6 openings
| April 10, 1978 | Eliot Feld Ballet Plymouth Theatre, Broadway | |
| April 11, 1978 | Murray Louis Dance Company Minskoff Theatre, Broadway | |
| April 12, 1978 | Diversions and Delights Eugene Oneill Theatre, Broadway | 13 perf. |
| April 13, 1978 | Patio / Porch Century Theatre, Broadway | 21 perf. |
| April 16, 1978 | The Mighty Gents Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | 9 perf. |
| April 18, 1978 | Dutch National Ballet Minskoff Theatre, Broadway | 14 perf. |
May: 5 openings
| May 1, 1978 | Da Morosco Theatre, Broadway | 697 perf. |
| May 9, 1978 | Ain't Misbehavin' Longacre Theatre, Broadway | 1,604 perf. |
| May 10, 1978 | Angel Minskoff Theatre, Broadway | 5 perf. |
| May 13, 1978 | Runaways Plymouth Theatre, Broadway | 274 perf. |
| May 14, 1978 | Working 46th Street Theatre, Broadway | 24 perf. |
June: 4 openings
| June 1, 1978 | Tribute Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway | 212 perf. |
| June 14, 1978 | The American Dance Machine Century Theatre, Broadway | 199 perf. |
| June 15, 1978 | Once in a Lifetime Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 85 perf. |
| June 19, 1978 | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Entermedia Theatre, Broadway | 1,584 perf. |
August: 1 opening
| August 3, 1978 | Stop the World- I Want to Get Off New York State Theatre, Broadway | 30 perf. |
September: 4 openings
| September 6, 1978 | Players Lyceum Theatre, Broadway | 23 perf. |
| September 20, 1978 | Eubie! Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | 439 perf. |
| September 21, 1978 | The Inspector General Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 69 perf. |
| September 28, 1978 | The Crucifer of Blood Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway | 236 perf. |
October: 4 openings
| October 3, 1978 | First Monday in October Majestic Theatre, Broadway | 79 perf. |
| October 22, 1978 | King of Hearts Minskoff Theatre, Broadway | 48 perf. |
| October 24, 1978 | St. Mark's Gospel Playhouse Theatre, Broadway | 18 perf. |
| October 30, 1978 | Gorey Stories Booth Theatre, Broadway | 1 perf. |
November: 2 openings
| November 12, 1978 | Platinum Mark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway | 33 perf. |
| November 16, 1978 | The Playboy of the Weekend World Playhouse Theatre, Broadway | 29 perf. |
December: 7 openings
| December 3, 1978 | The Neighborhood Playhouse at 50 Shubert Theatre, Broadway | |
| December 6, 1978 | The Kingfisher Biltmore Theatre, Broadway | 181 perf. |
| December 14, 1978 | Ballroom Majestic Theatre, Broadway | 116 perf. |
| December 14, 1978 | Man and Superman Circle In The Square Theatre, Broadway | 77 perf. |
| December 19, 1978 | Icedancing Minskoff Theatre, Broadway | 16 perf. |
| December 21, 1978 | A Broadway Musical Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | 1 perf. |
| December 28, 1978 | Taxi Tales Century Theatre, Broadway | 6 perf. |
Closed in 1978
| January 1, 1978 | Miss Margarida's Way Ambassador Theatre, opened 1977 | 98 run |
| January 1, 1978 | Your Arms Too Short to Box With God Lyceum Theatre, opened 1976 | 429 run |
| January 28, 1978 | An Almost Perfect Person Belasco Theatre, opened 1977 | 108 run |
| February 12, 1978 | Jesus Christ Superstar Longacre Theatre, opened 1977 | 96 run |
| February 16, 1978 | Golda Morosco Theatre, opened 1977 | 93 run |
| February 19, 1978 | Saint Joan Circle In The Square Theatre, opened 1977 | 77 run |
| February 19, 1978 | Sly Fox Broadhurst Theatre, opened 1976 | 495 run |
| March 19, 1978 | Side by Side by Sondheim Music Box Theatre, opened 1977 | 384 run |
| April 30, 1978 | A Touch of the Poet Helen Hayes Theatre, opened 1977 | 141 run |
| June 4, 1978 | Cold Storage Lyceum Theatre, opened 1977 | 180 run |
| July 1, 1978 | The Act Majestic Theatre, opened 1977 | 233 run |
| July 16, 1978 | for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf Booth Theatre, opened 1976 | 742 run |
| September 3, 1978 | Same Time, Next Year Brooks Atkinson Theatre, opened 1975 | 1,453 run |
| October 30, 1978 | The Runner Stumbles Little Theatre, opened 1976 | 396 run |
| December 30, 1978 | The King and I Uris Theatre, opened 1977 | 695 run |
| December 31, 1978 | The Gin Game John Golden Theatre, opened 1977 | 517 run |
| December 31, 1978 | The Magic Show Cort Theatre, opened 1974 | 1,920 run |