NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The masked man of Broadway is going out strong.
鈥� Broadway鈥檚 longest-running show 鈥� has postponed its final performance by eight weeks, pushing its final curtain from February to April after ticket demand spiked. Last week, the show raked in an eye-popping $2,2 million with a full house.
The musical 鈥� a fixture on Broadway since 1988, weathering recessions, war and cultural shifts 鈥� will now play its final Broadway performance on April 16. When it closes, it will have played 13,981 performances.
鈥淲e are all thrilled that not only the show鈥檚 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,鈥� lead producer Cameron Mackintosh said in a statement.
Producers said there would be no more postponements. 鈥淭his is the only possible extension for the Broadway champion, as the theater will then be closed for major renovations after the show鈥檚 incredible 35-year run.鈥�
Based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, 鈥淧hantom鈥� tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine. Andrew Lloyd Webber鈥檚 lavish songs include 鈥淢asquerade,鈥� 鈥矨ngel of Music,鈥� 鈥矨ll I Ask of You鈥� and 鈥淭he Music of the Night.鈥�
The closing of 鈥淧hantom鈥� would mean the longest-running show crown would go to 鈥淐hicago,鈥� which started in 1996. 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� is next, having begun performances in 1997.
Broadway , with all theaters closed for more than 18 months. Some of the most popular shows 鈥� 鈥淗amilton,鈥� 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� and 鈥淲icked鈥� 鈥� have rebounded well, but other shows have struggled. Breaking even usually requires a steady stream of tourists, especially for the costly 鈥淧hantom,鈥� and visitors to the city haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
