Ben Crawford in ‘Phantom of the Opera’ (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
The longest running show in Broadway’s history will now run just a little bit longer.
The Phantom of the Opera has delayed its Broadway closing by eight weeks. Originally announced to end its historic run on February 18, 2023, the late Harold Prince’s production of the legendary musical will now close April 16, 2023.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said the extension was due to a huge uptick in sales following the closing announcement.
“We are all thrilled that not only the show’s wonderful fans have been snapping up the remaining tickets, but also that a new, younger audience is equally eager to see this legendary production before it disappears,” Mackintosh said in a statement. “Such is the demand for tickets that we are delighted to announce that The Shubert Organization has been able to arrange a final eight-week extension of the run at The Majestic Theatre.”
Mackintosh insisted that the show definitely will not extend again, with its Broadway home, the Majestic, set for refurbishments following the show’s closure.
Upon closing, Phantom will have played 13,981 performances.
The Phantom of the Opera has music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe), and a book by Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber. The production also features musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, scenic and costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Andrew Bridge, and sound design by Martin Levan with Caddick as music director. Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group serve as producers.
The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history January 9, 2006, when it surpassed the nearly 18-year run of Cats. The production’s nearly 14,000 performances have been seen by 19.5 million people and grossed $1.3 billion. Phantom has been the largest single generator of income and jobs in Broadway and U.S. theatrical history. In the New York production alone, an estimated 6,500 people (including 450 actors) have been employed during its more than three-decade run.
