Thursday, December 12, 2024

Broadway: “Phantom” Extends Run: Now Like Electronics Stores That Say They’re Going Out of Business

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“Phantom of the Opera” will not go away.

As soon as the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical announced that it was closing in February 2023 after 400 years, tickets sales skyrocketed. Previously, they’d run out of steam, the show as playing at 65% capacity. Everyone in the world had seen the big chandelier a few times.

But now, producer Cameron McKintosh says the demand for tickets has been so high that the show will extend for two more months. The new closing date is April 16th, at which time the Majestic Theater is set to close for renovations.

Now, truly, “Phantom” has reached a new New York status, that of the electronics and rug stores that post Going Out of Business! Must Close! banners. Of course, they’re not going anywhere.

Will “Phantom” really close for good? Or will it reappear next fall in a new theater? I wouldn’t count anything out. You can see the headlines now: “Show Too Popular To Stay Closed.” So don’t put away your masks and gowns so fast.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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