Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Skip to main content

'The Phantom of the Opera' extends its long Broadway goodbye

Actors from the musical Phantom of the Opera perform at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool) Actors from the musical Phantom of the Opera perform at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
Share
NEW YORK -

The masked man of Broadway is going out strong.

 "The Phantom of the Opera" -- Broadway's longest-running show -- 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 US with a full house.

The musical -- a fixture on Broadway since 1988, weathering recessions, war and cultural shifts -- will now play its final Broadway performance on April 16. When it closes, it will have played 13,981 performances.

"We are all thrilled that not only the show's 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," lead producer Cameron Mackintosh said in a statement.

Producers said there would be no more postponements. "This is the only possible extension for the Broadway champion, as the theater will then be closed for major renovations after the show's incredible 35-year run."

Based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, "Phantom" 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's lavish songs include "Masquerade," "Angel of Music," "All I Ask of You" and "The Music of the Night."

The closing of "Phantom" would mean the longest-running show crown would go to "Chicago," which started in 1996. "The Lion King" is next, having begun performances in 1997.

Broadway took a pounding during the pandemic, with all theaters closed for more than 18 months. Some of the most popular shows -- "Hamilton," "The Lion King" and "Wicked" -- have rebounded well, but other shows have struggled. Breaking even usually requires a steady stream of tourists, especially for the costly "Phantom," and visitors to the city haven't returned to pre-pandemic levels.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Montérégie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.