Longest-running musical says goodbye after 35 years

KIMBERLY EDGAR Entertainment Editor

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running Broadway show in history, its first showing in 1988. After 35 years of showings, the final date it will be shown - as of now - is April 16, 2023.

The play was originally set to close on February 18, 2023 but was extended an extra eight weeks according to newyorktheatreguide. com. The Phantom of the Opera has won over 70 major theater awards including “three Olivier Awards, an Evening Standard Award, seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards, and five Outer Critic Circle Awards,” states thephantomoftheopera. com.

The story is based on the book by French author Gaston Leroux and focuses on the lead, Christine Daae, and the mysterious Phantom (the disfigured music genius) who haunts the Paris Opera House and takes Christine in as his music protégé. The Phantom falls in love with Christine and she has to choose between the art benefactor, Raoul, and the Phantom. The fear of losing Christine ends up causing the Phantom to grow mad and create a scheme to keep her by his side.

story is important and the acting comes together to tell the story, but it’s the lushness of the score that’s the draw.”

Drama teacher Mrs. Nancy Green has seen The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York City and felt that it was “undeni-