“Phantom of the Opera” to shut on Broadway in early 2023, ending 35-year run

Following an unparalleled 35-year run, the New York manufacturing of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” Broadway’s longest-running present, will finish in early 2023, producers confirmed Friday.

The present’s last efficiency will likely be held on Feb. 18, 2023, producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group mentioned in a information launch.

“As a British producer who has been fortunate sufficient to have been producing in New York for over 40 consecutive years, it has been an unparalleled honour to have offered the longest-running musical in Broadway’s historical past, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera,'” Mackintosh mentioned in a press release. “That this legendary present has thrilled New York for almost 35 phenomenal years is kind of astounding to me.” 

Since it opened on the Majestic Theatre on Jan. 26, 1988, Broadway’s “Phantom” has been carried out over 13,500 occasions for 19.5 million individuals and grossed $1.3 billion, in keeping with producers. It has gained seven Tony Awards, together with finest musical. Producers mentioned the present has been Broadway’s largest generator of jobs in Broadway and U.S. theatrical historical past, using roughly 6,500 individuals throughout its run. 

Worldwide, it has additionally been carried out in entrance of an estimated 145 million individuals in 41 international locations, and in 17 languages, producers mentioned. 

Though the Broadway iteration will likely be closing its doorways, the present will nonetheless proceed in different areas. 

The novel “The Phantom of the Opera,” written by French author Gaston Laroux, was printed in 1909. The character was first delivered to the massive display screen in a 1925 silent movie.  

On its twenty fifth anniversary on Broadway, Webber, the present’s composer, recalled to CBS News studying Laroux’s novel.

“I bear in mind discovering the ebook in New York and studying it one afternoon and considering, ‘It’s not the identical as I bear in mind it,'” Webber advised CBS News in 2013. “It’s not a type of humorous factor, with any person popping out and saying, ‘Boo’ from behind a chandelier. It’s truly a few romance.”

When the present first opened in New York in 1988, it had already been a success for 2 years in London. Still, not all of the critics took to it kindly. One reviewer within the USA Prime Time referred to as it, “psychologically light-weight.”

It has been a pricey musical to maintain, with elaborate units and costumes in addition to a big forged and orchestra. Box workplace grosses have fluctuated because the present reopened after the pandemic — going as excessive as over $1 million every week but in addition dropping to round $850,000. Last week, it hit $867,997 — and producers might have seen the writing on the wall.

“Phantom” tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls head over heels in love with an harmless younger soprano, Christine. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lavish songs embody “Masquerade,” ″Angel of Music,” ″All I Ask of You” and “The Music of the Night.”

The closing of “Phantom” would imply the longest still-running present crown would go to “Chicago,” which began in 1996. “The Lion King” is subsequent, having begun performances in 1997.