'Phantom of the Opera' closes on Broadway after 35 years

After 35 years and almost 14,000 performances, the curtain fell for the final time on the longest-running show in Broadway history - "The Phantom of the Opera." ...read more

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Updated on Apr 17, 2023 06:43 PM IST

"The Phantom of the Opera" cast appear at the curtain call following the final Broadway performance at the Majestic Theatre on April 16 in New York. Set in the 19th century, it tells the story of aspiring opera singer Christine Daae who is taught by the mysterious Phantom to hone her vocal skills, reported Reuters.(Charles Sykes/ Invision/ AP)

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The cast, crew and audience members linger after the final performance of ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ Sunday's show in front of a sold-out crowd at the Majestic Theatre off Times Square was performance number 13,981. (Caitlin Ochs / Reuters)

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Confetti is released after the final performance of ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ It was originally directed by Harold Prince and Broadway legends including Michael Crawford, who was the first to play the “Phantom,” reported Reuters. (Caitlin Ochs / Reuters)

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Audience members applaud after the final performance of ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ The show, adapted from Gaston Leroux's French novel of the same name, won seven 1988 Tony Awards, including best musical, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006, reported AFP. (Caitlin Ochs / Reuters)

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Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is applauded by cast and crew members after the final performance. He dedicated the final Broadway performance to his son Nicholas, who died of gastric cancer last month, reported Reuters. (Caitlin Ochs / Reuters)

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John Riddle, Laid Mackintosh, and Emilie Kouatchou take a bow after after their last performance. The production estimated that it has employed 6,500 people, including 450 actors, over the years, as reported by AFP. (Caitlin Ochs / Reuters)

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‘The Phantom of the Opera’ cast appear at the curtain call following the final Broadway performance. The musical premiered in 1986 in London, where it continues to be performed, reported AFP. ( Charles Sykes/ Invision/ AP)

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A woman displays a ticket on the carpet before the final show of ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ The 41 Broadway theatres near Times Square that make up New York's cultural and touristic heart average between 200,000 and 300,000 spectators every week, bringing in more than $30 million in weekly revenue, reported AFP. (Caitlin Ochs / Reuters)