The Phantom
of the Opera, the longest-running Broadway show in history, is set to down its
curtains for the last time in February, 2023. The show will have run for 35
years at the time of its closing. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics
by Charles Hart, The Phantom of the Opera has been a staple of the New York
Broadway.

Top 5
longest-running Broadway shows:

1.       The Phantom of the Opera: This is the longest-running show in
Broadway history. The Phantom of the Opera debuted on Broadway on January 26,
1998. However, renditions of the same began in London in 1996.

2.       Chicago (1996 revival): Chicago, another musical, has been a
Broadway staple since it was staged for the first time on November 14, 1996.
Chicago has several records to its credit. It is not only Broadway’s
longest-running revival show, but it is also Broadway’s longest-running
American show.

Also Read | The Phantom of the Opera, longest-running Broadway show, closes in February

3.       The Lion King: Another musical, The Lion King premiered
on Broadway on November 13, 1997. In 2014, it surpassed The Phantom of the
Opera to become the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. It is also the
longest-running Broadway show directed by a woman.

4.       Cats: Cats is the oldest of the lot. A musical, Cats
premiered on Broadway on October 7, 1982. Performances of Cats ended on
September 10, 2000, before it was revived in 2016. Cats is the first Broadway
production with over 7,000 performances.

5.       Wicked: Wicked too is a musical. It premiered in
Broadway on October 30, 2003. The music and lyrics of Wicked are by Stephen
Schwartz. The musical is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel titled,
Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicket Witch of the West.

The Phantom
of the Opera has been seen by 19.8 million in Broadway. In the three-and-a-half
decades the show has sustained, it has earned $1.3 billion.