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Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Emilie Kouatchou as Christine Photo by Matthew Murphy

Events and Happenings

The Phantom of the Opera Will End Historic Broadway Run

After a run of over 13,000 performances, “The Phantom of the Opera” will close on Broadway on February 18, 2023. The show, which first opened at the Majestic Theatre on January 26, 1988, is the longest-running show in Broadway history. It celebrates its 35th anniversary on the Great White Way just weeks before its final curtain call.

The musical, directed by Harold Prince and featuring choreography by Gillian Lynne, is based on the novel “Le Fantôme de L’Opéra” by Gaston Leroux and features a book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, music by Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Charles Hart. The current cast is led by Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, and John Riddle as Raoul.

The show was forced to shut down temporarily in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to reopen to audiences on October 22, 2021. It is produced on Broadway by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group.

Mackintosh, a British producer working in New York for over 40 years, said of the show’s closing, “It has been an unparalleled honor to have presented the longest-running musical in Broadway’s history… Our gratitude to American audiences falling in love with The Phantom is infinite.” He added that while the Phantom may be disappearing for now, the show will continue to enchant audiences in London and around the world, and may one day return to Broadway.

Written By

Drew Shade is a visionary creative force at the intersection of Black theatre, media, and culture. As the Founder and Creative Director of Broadway Black, Off-Book: The Podcast, and The Antonyo Awards, he champions artistic excellence and amplifies the voices of Black theatre artists with intention, heart, and unapologetic pride. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Playbill, Deadline, The Observer, and Apple TV’s Dear…, and he's collaborated with brands and institutions such as NBC, BET, Audible, Universal Pictures, SheaMoisture, The Public Theater, Signature Theatre, National Black Theatre, and more. He has also served as a cultural consultant and curator for countless Broadway productions for over a decade — establishing himself as a trusted voice and tastemaker in theatre and media. In addition to his work behind the scenes, Shade is a performer and creative artist in his own right, with credits including Classical Theatre of Harlem’s The First Noel at The Apollo, The Preacher’s Wife musical at The Alliance Theatre, and a Sondheim tribute concert at Carnegie Hall led by Tituss Burgess. He’s also lent his voice to campaigns for Google and continues to explore visual storytelling through photography — from red carpets to press coverage. Rooted in joy, justice, and the belief that Black theatre is both legacy and revolution, Shade continues to build platforms and shine light where it’s long been overdue — so Black artists are seen, heard, and celebrated on their own terms. “Have a belief in yourself that is bigger than anyone’s disbelief.” – August Wilson

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