'Phantom of the Opera' to end Broadway musical run after 35 years
The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway's longest-running musical, will drop its final curtain on Broadway in February 2023.
Announcing on a social media, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s show extended its heartful gratitude to the audience who became part of its successful 35-year run.
"To all our #PhantomBroadway fans around the world: We are overwhelmed by the amount of love and memories you have shared over the past week. After 13,925 performances, The Phantom of the Opera will be closing on February 18, 2023," they wrote.
"Thank you to every single person who has been part of theater history and experienced the music of the night for almost 35 years in New York City," they added.
The production's sudden loss of box office gross due to the pandemic and inflation amounted to nearly $1 million, forcing the unexpected closure of the opera. The Phantom of the Opera reopened on Oct. 22, 2021, but falter to rebound to its fanfare due to the Omicron variant surge.
Speaking to The New York Times, Producer Cameron Mackintosh explained the decision to end production.
“You don’t want to run a great show into the ground,” Mackintosh said. “It’s always been one of my mantras throughout my long career: There’s an art to closing a show, as well as opening one.”
He did, however, say that the show will also continue to run in London and in productions elsewhere around the world. Mackintosh also hoped that the Opera may have its future comeback on Broadway.
“Gaston Leroux’s opera ghost may be disappearing for now, but there is no doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece will continue to enchant audiences in London and around the world – and one day will return to Broadway,” the producer said to The Hollywood Reporter.
The theatrical, nevertheless, will continue to spend its last few months on stage in New York including the holidays as the final block of tickets will soon be announced.
The Phantom of the Opera began staging at the Majestic Theatre in January 1988. It tells the story of a disfigured phantom genius who haunts the Opera House in Paris and eventually falls in love with the young soprano Christine.
The show made history on Broadway having been staged in different theaters in New York, London, China, Japan, Australia, Finland, the Czech Republic, as well as the Philippines.