In addition to Riddle, the New York production said goodbye with Emilie Kouatchou as Christine and Laird Mackintosh stepping in for Ben Crawford as the Phantom. Webber’s lavish songs include “Masquerade,” ″Angel of Music” and ″All I Ask of You.' It’s going to be a great night,” said John Riddle just before dashing inside to play Raoul for the final time.īased 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. “If there ever was a bang, we’re going out with a bang. The curtain call Sunday showed how out of step “Phantom” is with the rest of Broadway but also how glorious a big, splashy musical can be. But the prolonged pandemic may have been the last straw: It's a costly musical to sustain, with elaborate sets and costumes as well as a large cast and orchestra. 26, 1988 - has weathered recessions, war, terrorism and cultural shifts. The musical - a fixture on Broadway since opening on Jan. “The one question I keep getting asked again and again - will the Phantom return? Having been a producer for over 55 years, I've seen all the great musicals return, and ‘Phantom’ is one of the greatest,” he said. Producer Cameron Mackintosh gave some in the crowd hope they would see the Phantom again, and perhaps sooner than they think. Brightman, holding his hand, agreed: “When Andrew was writing it, he was right there. “When he was a little boy, he heard some of this music,” Lloyd Webber said.

13,981 at the Majestic Theatre and it ended with a reprise of “The Music of the Night” performed by the current cast, previous actors in the show - including original star Sarah Brightman - and crew members in street clothes.Īndrew Lloyd Webber took to the stage last in a black suit and black tie and dedicated the final show to his son, Nick, who died last month after a protracted battle with gastric cancer and pneumonia. NEW YORK (AP) - The final curtain came down Sunday on New York's production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ending Broadway’s longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts and gold and silver confetti bursting from its famous chandelier.

Champagne webber construction