NEW YORK — “The Phantom of the Opera” – Broadway’s longest-running present – is scheduled to shut in February 2023, the largest sufferer but of the post-pandemic softening in theater attendance in New York.

The musical – a fixture on Broadway since 1988, weathering recessions, warfare and cultural shifts – will play its last efficiency on Broadway on Feb. 18, a spokesperson informed The Related Press on Friday. The closing will come lower than a month after its thirty fifth anniversary. It should conclude with an eye-popping 13,925 performances.

It’s a pricey musical to maintain, with elaborate units and costumes in addition to a big solid and orchestra. Field workplace grosses have fluctuated for the reason that present reopened after the pandemic – going as excessive as over $1 million per week but additionally dropping to round $850,000. Final week, it hit $867,997 and producers could have seen the writing on the wall.

Primarily based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, “Phantom” tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera Home and falls head over heels in love with an harmless younger soprano, Christine. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lavish songs embrace “Masquerade,” Angel of Music,” All I Ask of You” and “The Music of the Evening.”

“As a producer you dream {that a} present will run perpetually. Certainly, my manufacturing of Andrew’s ‘Cats’ proudly declared for many years ‘Now and Endlessly.’ But ‘Phantom’ has surpassed that present’s extraordinary Broadway run. However all exhibits do lastly shut,” producer Cameron Waterproof coat mentioned in an announcement.

The primary manufacturing opened in London in 1986 and since then the present has been seen by greater than 145 million folks in 183 cities and carried out in 17 languages over 70,000 performances. On Broadway alone, the musical has performed greater than 13,500 performances to 19 million folks at The Majestic Theatre.

The closing of “Phantom” would imply the longest operating present crown would go to “Chicago,” which began in 1996. “The Lion King” is subsequent, having begun performances in 1997.

Broadway took a pounding through the pandemic, with all theaters closed for greater than 18 months. Among the hottest exhibits – “Hamilton,” “The Lion King” and “Depraved” – have rebounded effectively, however different exhibits have struggled. Breaking even normally requires a gradual stream of vacationers, particularly for “Phantom” and guests to the town have not returned to pre-pandemic ranges.