CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I have seen The Phantom of the Opera many times. It is a magnificent musical. It has an outstanding score and the Broadway production is well staged. If Phantom was your first trip to the theater, I’d bet you’ve come back to see other shows since then.
And, after 13,981 performances dating back to 1985, the chandelier has fallen for the final time last weekend.
It’s fair to ask, why did it close?
It’s a victim of New York City’s COVID policies.
I had tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera in New York the night before Broadway closed down in March, 2020. And when the New York City theaters reopened, I was peppered with offer after offer to buy tickets. Discount seats for $40. Two-for-one deals.
Truth is, if you remember the rules, I didn’t want to go. The audience would need to show proof of vaccination. You might not be able to sit next to your theater companion; only half the seats could be sold. You’d need to wear a mask every moment they were in the theater. And if your mask slipped, you’d get a lecture.
The economics of Broadway shows are that they must sell all of their seats to cover their operating costs. And The Phantom of the Opera is a big show with a big cast and high overhead costs. A half filled auditorium filled with people who had discount tickets is a money loser. Broadway insiders say Phantom didn’t cover its running costs for a single week since it re-opened in September 2021. Producers won’t go on losing money indefinitely.
Who killed the Phantom? The overly restrictive COVID policies that kept tourists away from New York.
Chris Conley
Comments