This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65299126
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Final curtain call for Broadway's Phantom of the Opera | Final curtain call for Broadway's Phantom of the Opera |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Andrew Lloyd Webber dedicates the last performance to his son, who died last month | Andrew Lloyd Webber dedicates the last performance to his son, who died last month |
| After 35 years, 13,981 shows and seven Tony awards, Broadway's longest running musical - The Phantom of the Opera - closed on Sunday night. | After 35 years, 13,981 shows and seven Tony awards, Broadway's longest running musical - The Phantom of the Opera - closed on Sunday night. |
| Though the show endured recessions, terrorism and cultural shifts - it could not survive the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects. | Though the show endured recessions, terrorism and cultural shifts - it could not survive the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects. |
| The musical debuted on 26 January 1988 at New York's Majestic Theatre - which is where it had stayed ever since. | The musical debuted on 26 January 1988 at New York's Majestic Theatre - which is where it had stayed ever since. |
| It grossed over $1.3bn (£1bn) during its decades-long Broadway run. | It grossed over $1.3bn (£1bn) during its decades-long Broadway run. |
| Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber appeared on stage to dedicate the final performance to his son, Nick, 43, who died in March after a battle with gastric cancer and pneumonia. | Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber appeared on stage to dedicate the final performance to his son, Nick, 43, who died in March after a battle with gastric cancer and pneumonia. |
| On Saturday, Lord Lloyd-Webber said the show had "probably" cost over nearly $1m (£806,000) to run a week. | On Saturday, Lord Lloyd-Webber said the show had "probably" cost over nearly $1m (£806,000) to run a week. |
| Lord Lloyd-Webber joins the 'Phantom of the Opera' cast on stage | |
| Lord Lloyd-Webber joins the 'Phantom of the Opera' cast on stage | |
| The pandemic forced Broadway to close for 18 months, and after theatres re-opened costs increased by 15% due to the imposition of Covid-19 protocols and additional security, according to the show's general manager. | The pandemic forced Broadway to close for 18 months, and after theatres re-opened costs increased by 15% due to the imposition of Covid-19 protocols and additional security, according to the show's general manager. |
| Meanwhile, overall tourist levels, which aid ticket sales, have not returned to pre-pandemic levels in New York. | Meanwhile, overall tourist levels, which aid ticket sales, have not returned to pre-pandemic levels in New York. |
| The last show was originally scheduled for February, but the show saw a last minute surge in demand, which saw ticket sales bring in over $3m (£2.4m) each week. | The last show was originally scheduled for February, but the show saw a last minute surge in demand, which saw ticket sales bring in over $3m (£2.4m) each week. |
| Current and former actors to perform in the musical attended - including Sarah Brightman, who was the first person to play lead character Christine, and Emilie Kouatchou, who became the first black actress to play the role in New York. | Current and former actors to perform in the musical attended - including Sarah Brightman, who was the first person to play lead character Christine, and Emilie Kouatchou, who became the first black actress to play the role in New York. |
| Showing their support, celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Glenn Close were in attendance. | Showing their support, celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Glenn Close were in attendance. |
| There had been 16 actors to perform as the Phantom since 1988, with Howard McGillin - who played the role for over seven years and in over 2,500 performances - holding the record for the longest stint. | There had been 16 actors to perform as the Phantom since 1988, with Howard McGillin - who played the role for over seven years and in over 2,500 performances - holding the record for the longest stint. |
| "I started sobbing the minute I came in," McGillin said at the last show. "We're all part of this family and we will always be. It's a wonderful thing." | "I started sobbing the minute I came in," McGillin said at the last show. "We're all part of this family and we will always be. It's a wonderful thing." |
| To celebrate, silver and gold confetti rained down on the crowd and free champagne was handed out during intermission. | To celebrate, silver and gold confetti rained down on the crowd and free champagne was handed out during intermission. |
| "I've never seen any other marquees at the Majestic Theatre. To not see that mask there is going to be devastating," theatre student Andrew Defrin told CNN. | "I've never seen any other marquees at the Majestic Theatre. To not see that mask there is going to be devastating," theatre student Andrew Defrin told CNN. |
| The theatre will undergo renovations that had been pushed off after the nonstop performances over the last three decades. | The theatre will undergo renovations that had been pushed off after the nonstop performances over the last three decades. |
| Since the closing of Phantom, Lord Lloyd-Webber has one remaining show on Broadway - Bad Cinderella. | Since the closing of Phantom, Lord Lloyd-Webber has one remaining show on Broadway - Bad Cinderella. |
| Chicago, which opened in 1996, takes the title of the longest running Broadway musical. | Chicago, which opened in 1996, takes the title of the longest running Broadway musical. |
| The flagship production of Phantom is still on in London and will be celebrating its 36th anniversary in October. | The flagship production of Phantom is still on in London and will be celebrating its 36th anniversary in October. |
| But the show's West End producer Cameron Mackintosh mused that the musical might have a second life as "all the great musicals return" so "it's only a matter of time". | But the show's West End producer Cameron Mackintosh mused that the musical might have a second life as "all the great musicals return" so "it's only a matter of time". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Coronavirus lockdown measures | Coronavirus lockdown measures |
| Broadway theatre | Broadway theatre |
| Andrew Lloyd Webber | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| Coronavirus pandemic | Coronavirus pandemic |