1988-2023: Longest running show on Broadway, 'Phantom of the Opera' to close

The musical will celebrate its 35th anniversary in January followed by a final performance on Feb 18

The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show on Broadway, is set to close on Feb 18, 2023, due to a sharp drop in ticket sales even after New York theatres reopened following the pandemic lockdown.

Phantom is a staple within the Broadway world with over 70 major theatre wins and 13,733 performances since its debut in 1988. Despite its legacy, the New York Post reported that the show was losing $1 million a month.

Fans mourned the news across social media, reflecting on what the show has meant to thespians and audiences alike. In January, the show cast Emilie Kouatchou as its first Black American female actor to portray the lead role of Christine. The decision broke racial barriers and made Broadway history but her performances will be short-lived.

The musical will celebrate its 35th anniversary in January followed by a final Broadway performance on Feb 18.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera is based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux and was originally directed by Harold Prince. Broadway legends including Michael Crawford, who was the first to play the Phantom, Sarah Brightman, Judy Kaye and others have taken leading roles in the show.

Phantom tells the 19th-century story of aspiring opera singer Christine Daae who is taught by the mysterious Phantom to hone her vocal skills. However, things take a dark turn when the Phantom chooses Christine as his muse, and she falls in love with an arts benefactor named Raoul.