'Phantom of the Opera' final show ends with tears and cheers

STORY: This is the final Broadway show of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ after a record-breaking 35-year run

Date: April 16, 2023

Location: New York

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber dedicated the final show to his late son Nick

[Andrew Lloyd Webber, Broadway composer]

“All I can say tonight is a big thank you to absolutely everybody who made this extraordinary run possible. I mean Cameron has really done it all before, but all I can say – I’m sorry, I really haven’t prepared anything tonight is that, it’s just amazing really what has happened. I mean in the last few months I don’t think anybody, any of us thought that the Phantom would go out quite with the bang it has. And so maybe it may comeback, you never know."

The show is closing due to a sharp drop in post-lockdown ticket sales

Fans and cast are hoping for a comeback of the award-winning show

[Sarah Brightman, Original cast of 'Phantom']

“I don’t know, it, it feels quite surreal, actually, because I actually don’t think it should be closing. That's - and so I think that people will miss it so much that they - it will reopen at some point. That's my instinct about it. This should be going on."

[Dodie Pettit, Original cast of 'Phantom']

“We didn't really even know what we were getting into. We kind of did, but we didn't. We were just enjoying the ride in the beginning. Who knew it was going to go 35 years?”

[Laird Mackintosh, Actor]

“It's a family and it's been a home. And the show will continue, I hope and I know. But it won't continue - this production won’t continue. And it's like when your parents sell the family home after 35 years, you know.”