The final curtain came down Sunday on New YorkB次元官网网址檚 production of B次元官网网址淭he Phantom of the Opera,B次元官网网址� ending BroadwayB次元官网网址檚 longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts and gold and silver confetti bursting from its famous chandelier.

It was show No. 13,981 at the Majestic Theatre and it ended with a reprise of B次元官网网址淭he Music of the NightB次元官网网址� performed by the current cast, previous actors in the show B次元官网网址� including original star Sarah Brightman B次元官网网址� and crew members in street clothes.

Andrew Lloyd Webber took to the stage last in a black suit and black tie and dedicated the final show to his son, Nick, He was 43.

B次元官网网址淲hen he was a little boy, he heard some of this music,B次元官网网址� Lloyd Webber said. Brightman, holding his hand, agreed: B次元官网网址淲hen Andrew was writing it, he was right there. So his son is with us. Nick, we love you very much.B次元官网网址�

Producer Cameron Mackintosh gave some in the crowd hope they would see the Phantom again, and perhaps sooner than they think.

B次元官网网址淭he one question I keep getting asked again and again B次元官网网址� will the Phantom return? Having been a producer for over 55 years, IB次元官网网址檝e seen all the great musicals return, and B次元官网网址楶hantomB次元官网网址� is one of the greatest,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 only a matter of time.B次元官网网址�

The musical B次元官网网址� a fixture on Broadway since opening on Jan. 26, 1988 B次元官网网址� has weathered recessions, war, terrorism and cultural shifts. But the prolonged pandemic may have been the last straw: ItB次元官网网址檚 a costly musical to sustain, with elaborate sets and costumes as well as a large cast and orchestra. The curtain call Sunday showed how out of step B次元官网网址淧hantomB次元官网网址� is with the rest of Broadway but also how glorious a big, splashy musical can be.

B次元官网网址淚f there ever was a bang, weB次元官网网址檙e going out with a bang. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a great night,B次元官网网址� said John Riddle just before dashing inside to play Raoul for the final time.

Based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, B次元官网网址淧hantomB次元官网网址� tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine. WebberB次元官网网址檚 lavish songs include B次元官网网址淢asquerade,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址矨ngel of MusicB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址矨ll I Ask of You.B次元官网网址�

In addition to Riddle, the New York production said goodbye with as Christine and Laird Mackintosh stepping in for Ben Crawford as the Phantom. Crawford was unable to sing because of a bacterial infection but was cheered at the curtain call, stepping to the side of the stage. The Phantom waved him over to stand beside him, Riddle and Kouatchou.

There was a video presentation of many of the actors who had played key roles in the show over the years, and the orchestra seats were crowded with Christines, Raouls and Phantoms. The late director Hal Prince, choreographer Gillian Lynne and set and costume designer Maria Bj枚rnson were also honored.

Lin-Manuel Miranda attended, as did Glenn Close, who performed in two separate Broadway productions of Lloyd WebberB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪unset Boulevard.B次元官网网址� Free champagne was offered at intermission and flutes of it were handed out onstage at the curtain call.

Riddle first saw B次元官网网址淭he Phantom of the OperaB次元官网网址� in Toronto as a 4-year-old child. B次元官网网址淚t was the first musical I ever saw. I didnB次元官网网址檛 know what a musical was,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow, 30-some odd years later, IB次元官网网址檓 closing the show on Broadway. So itB次元官网网址檚 incredible.B次元官网网址�

Kouatchou, who became the first Black woman in the role in New York, didnB次元官网网址檛 think the show would ever stop. B次元官网网址淚 was like, B次元官网网址極K, IB次元官网网址檓 going to do my run, B次元官网网址楶hantomB次元官网网址� is going to continue on and theyB次元官网网址檒l be more Christines of color,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut this is it.B次元官网网址�

The first production opened in London in 1986 and since then the show has been seen by more than 145 million people in 183 cities and performed in 17 languages over 70,000 performances. On Broadway alone, it has grossed more than $1.3 billion.

When B次元官网网址淧hantomB次元官网网址� opened in New York, B次元官网网址淒ie HardB次元官网网址� was in movie theaters, Adele was born, and floppy discs were at the cutting edge of technology. A postage stamp cost 25 cents, and the yearB次元官网网址檚 most popular songs were B次元官网网址淩oll With ItB次元官网网址� by Steve Winwood, B次元官网网址淔aithB次元官网网址� by George Michael and Rick AstleyB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淣ever Gonna Give You Up.B次元官网网址�

Critics were positive, with the New York Post calling it B次元官网网址渁 piece of impeccably crafted musical theater,B次元官网网址� the Daily B次元官网网址 describing it as B次元官网网址渟pectacular entertainment,B次元官网网址� and The New York Times saying it B次元官网网址渨ants nothing more than to shower the audience with fantasy and fun.B次元官网网址�

Lloyd WebberB次元官网网址檚 other musicals include B次元官网网址淐ats,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淛esus Christ Superstar,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淓vita,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪unset BoulevardB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪chool of Rock.B次元官网网址� The closing of B次元官网网址淧hantomB次元官网网址� means the composer is left with one show on Broadway, the critically mauled B次元官网网址淏ad Cinderella.B次元官网网址�

The closing of B次元官网网址淧hantom,B次元官网网址� originally scheduled for February, was pushed to mid-April after a flood of revived interest and ticket sales that pushed weekly grosses past $3 million. The closing means the longest-running show crown now goes to B次元官网网址淐hicago,B次元官网网址� which started in 1996. B次元官网网址淭he Lion KingB次元官网网址� is next, having begun performances in 1997.

Broadway , with all theaters closed for more than 18 months. Some of the most popular shows B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗amilton,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Lion KingB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淲ickedB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� rebounded well, but other shows have struggled.

Breaking even usually requires a steady stream of tourists, especially for B次元官网网址淧hantom,B次元官网网址� and visitors to the city havenB次元官网网址檛 returned to pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic also pushed up expenses for all shows, including routine COVID-19 testing and safety officers on staff. The Phantom became a poster boy for BroadwayB次元官网网址檚 return B次元官网网址� after all, he is partially masked.

Fans can always catch the Phantom elsewhere. The flagship London production celebrated its 36th anniversary in October, and there are productions in Japan, Greece, Australia, Sweden, Italy, South Korea and the Czech Republic. One is about to open in Bucharest, and another will open in Vienna in 2024.

Kouatchou, who walked the red carpet before the final show in a hot pink clinging gown with a sweetheart neckline and a cut out, said the bitterness was undercut by the big send-off. Most Broadway shows that close slink into the darkness uncelebrated.

B次元官网网址淚t kind of sweetens it, right?B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e get to celebrate at the end of this. We get to all come together and drink and laugh and talk about the show and all the highs and lows. ItB次元官网网址檚 ending on a big note.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擬ark Kennedy, The Associated Press