The closing of “Phantom” would mean the longest running show crown would go to “Chicago,” which started in 1996. On Broadway alone, the musical has played more than 13,500 performances to 19 million people at The Majestic Theatre. 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. But all shows do finally close,” producer Cameron Mackintosh said in a statement.

Indeed, my production of Andrew’s ‘Cats’ proudly declared for decades ‘Now and Forever.’ Yet ‘Phantom’ has surpassed that show’s extraordinary Broadway run. “As a producer you dream that a show will run forever. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lavish songs include “Masquerade,” ″Angel of Music,” ″All I Ask of You” and “The Music of the Night.” 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.

Phantom of the opera broadway week