After 35 years and almost 14,000 performances, the production raised its chandelier for the last time.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera took its final bow on Broadway last Sunday, April 16.
The musical has been Broadway’s longest-running production, with exactly 13,981 shows over the course of 35 years.
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Originally scheduled to close in February earlier this year, the musical received an extension through April when sales went up after the announcement.
News of the closing was a surprise to musical theater fans, as Phantom’s presence on Broadway has seemed stable throughout all these years.
However, producer Cameron Mackintosh has shared that the production was losing money, even before the pandemic forced Broadway shows to temporarily close down.
A little illumination! Our chandelier rises on Broadway for the final time 🌹 pic.twitter.com/GTmKacZYZO
— The Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) April 16, 2023
The Final Performance
Webber was present for the last performance and took the stage to dedicate the show to his son Nick, who passed away just a month ago.
“When he was a little boy, he heard some of this music,” the composer recalled.
“When Andrew was writing it, he was right there. So his son is with us. Nick, we love you very much,” added Sarah Brightman, Phantom’s original Christine Daaé.
Brightman also returned to the stage at the end of the show to sing a reprise of “The Music of the Night” with the rest of the current cast and other former actors.
You alone can make our song take flight! Re-live last night's spectacular final curtain call on Broadway 🌹 We were honored to welcome a few guests from Phantom's history to help us say goodbye 🖤 pic.twitter.com/yfKxhanSYq
— The Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) April 17, 2023
The final show was invitation-only, filling The Majestic Theatre with actors, artists, and fans who truly love the musical.
Every act was met with applause, not only for the performers but also for beloved props and sets. At the end of the show, the stagehands responsible for making these spectacles happen were invited on stage to take a bow.
The one-ton chandelier, always a looming presence at every show, was lowered to the cheers of the audience and showered the venue with gold and silver confetti.
“For a show to go out this triumphantly is almost unheard-of,” said Mackintosh. When asked if Phantom will ever return to New York, the producer was confident that it will, at some point.
“But it is time for the show to have a rest.”
Banner image via Twitter @PhantomOpera.
