Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical plans to play through the holidays, and. Breaking even usually requires a steady stream of tourists, especially for "Phantom" and visitors to the city haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels. The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest-running show, will close this winter, multiple sources told The Post. Some of the most popular shows - "Hamilton," "The Lion King" and "Wicked" - have rebounded well, but other shows have struggled. "The Lion King" is next, having begun performances in 1997.īroadway took a pounding during the pandemic, with all theaters closed for more than 18 months. I rehearsed and performed with the Broadway cast and when I came back I did more rehearsals with Gillian Lynne the choreographer. The closing of "Phantom" would mean the longest running show crown would go to "Chicago," which started in 1996. Production Staff Opening Night Cast Current Cast Replacements. On Broadway alone, the musical has played more than 13,500 performances to 19 million people at The Majestic Theatre. The Phantom of the Opera (Original, Musical, Drama, Broadway) will open in New York. The first production opened in London in 1986 and since then the show has been seen by more than 145 million people in 183 cities and performed in 17 languages over 70,000 performances. But all shows do finally close," producer Cameron Mackintosh said in a statement. Indeed, my production of Andrew's 'Cats' proudly declared for decades 'Now and Forever.' Yet 'Phantom' has surpassed that show's extraordinary Broadway run. "As a producer you dream that a show will run forever. Andrew Lloyd Webber's lavish songs include "Masquerade," Angel of Music," All I Ask of You" and "The Music of the Night." Last week, it hit $867,997 and producers may have seen the writing on the wall.īased on a novel by Gaston Leroux, "Phantom" tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine. Box office grosses have fluctuated since the show reopened after the pandemic - going as high as over $1 million a week but also dropping to around $850,000. She also explained her frustration with the producers of Phantom of the Opera and Broadway in general for taking so long to cast Black women in the lead roles. (L-R) John Riddle as 'Raoul', Ben Crawford as 'The Phantom' and Emilie Kouatchou as 'Christine' take the curtain call at the 34th anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of The. It is a costly musical to sustain, with elaborate sets and costumes as well as a large cast and orchestra. It will conclude with an eye-popping 13,925 performances. The closing will come less than a month after its 35th anniversary. Original Cast Michael Crawford The Phantom Sarah Brightman Christine Daa Steve Barton Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny David Firth Monsieur Andr Rosemary Ashe Carlotta Guidicelli Mary Millar Madame Giry John Aron Paul Arden Griffith Monsieur Reyer Barry Clark Auctioneer David DeVan Porter Janet Devenish. 18, a spokesperson told The Associated Press on Friday. The musical - a fixture on Broadway since 1988, weathering recessions, war and cultural shifts - will play its final performance on Broadway on Feb. NEW YORK - "The Phantom of the Opera" - Broadway's longest-running show - is scheduled to close in February 2023, the biggest victim yet of the post-pandemic softening in theater attendance in New York. "Quite literally, the end of an era."Phantom of the Opera," Broadway's longest-running show and an icon of New York City theater, will close early next year. "I've always thought Phantom would run on Broadway forever," wrote theater director Andrew Keates. "I cannot imagine a world without the phantom of the opera on broadway, it will literally be the end of the world as we know it," said one Twitter user. The Phantom of the Opera Broadway Cast Justin Peck (i) Headshot. In January, the show will commemorate 35 years on Broadway before its final performance on February 18, 2023, much to the dismay of many fans. Simon Fergusson/Getty ImagesĪccording to the New York Post, which broke the news of the show's closure earlier on Friday, the show is reportedly losing close to $1 million a month, and the cast and crew were informed on Friday that it is past the point of no return. Broadway announced that after 35 years, the show will close in February 2023. Here, Anthony Warlow, left, and Ana Marina, cast members of "The Phantom of the Opera" perform on stage at the photo call for the new production of Broadway's longest-running musical "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Princess Theatre on Jin Melbourne, Australia.