Broadway’s longest running show is closing the curtain, or is it?
On September 16th, 2022, some devastating news was shared throughout the Broadway world, Phantom of the Opera—Broadway’s longest running show of 35 years—would be ending its run at the Majestic Theatre. This came as a shock to the community, but is there more to come from Phantom on Broadway?
Apparently, Phantom of the Opera (POTO) is at “The Point of No Return” because their closing date has been set for February 18th, 2023. After a beyond impressive 13,925 shows performed, the show will end its’ run, leaving echoes of Broadway hits like “Think of Me,” “Masquerade,” and “Music of the Night” in the Majestic Theatre.
Some believe low ticket sales as the reason for closure. Once it was released that the shows days were numbered, sales boosted immensely, as they typically do, ensuring that the fantastic cast of Ben Crawford as Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou, making her Broadway debut as Christine Daaé, have packed audiences for months to come.
Some say that this is not the end of Phantom’s run. In an Instagram post from September 29th, Ben Crawford acknowledged the closure, noting to get tickets while they last. While the video addressed the impending closure, it also highlighted the future of POTO in an appropriately mysterious way, ending the video with the words “I have developed a particular fondness for New York City. So be vigilant. I will not be far away” in their signature font, backed by an apt mist.
Fans have come up with many theories about what this last message could mean. In recent history, Beetlejuice closed at the Winter Garden and re-opened later at the Marquis Theatre, is this path one Phantom will go down? With dwindling ticket sales, it might be economically smart to change to a smaller theatre, perhaps even off-Broadway. Other fans speculate it could mean a filming of the current cast, to keep a piece of NYC’s Phantom alive forever.
No matter what the fate of the show is and no matter what the future holds for it, Phantom has impacted millions of viewers and broken Broadway records. The unforgettable sets, costumes, and music will continue to impact millions around the world, and it seems there is more up the Phantom’s sleeve.