American theatre lovers were handed a shock on Friday when the New York Post reported that the Phantom of the Opera, which is the longest-running show in the history of Broadway, will close in February 2022. The show will be completing its 35th anniversary in January 2022 and will close down after, the cast members have been notified. 

The longest-running Broadway show has witnessed several greats working for it over the years. However, its ticket sales have dwindled since the COVID-19 pandemic began, which is forcing it to close down. English lyricist Charles Hart is one of the people associated with the show, as the Englishman’s work for it has received widespread acclaim over the years.

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Who is Charles Hart?

Charles Hart is a widely known English lyricist and songwriter who is associated with the longest-running Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera. He has worked on many musicals and operas in his career, ranging from the stage to television.

He was born on June 3, 1961, to George Wilson Hart and Juliet Lavinia Hart in London, United Kingdom. His father worked as an antique book dealer while his mother was an actress. Apart from his mother, his maternal grandparents were also associated with theatre and music, something that helped him to pick it as his career later. 

Hart’s earliest introduction to writing lyrics came when he was growing up. He attended school in the market town of Maidenhead in Berkshire, England, which was at the same time when his grandmother was working as an actress in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music in London. He pursued an undergraduate degree in music from Robinson College in Cambridge. He also pursued a postgraduate degree in music composition from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1984.

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It was at this time that he came under the radar of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh. The former appointed him as a lyricist for the Phantom of the Opera sometime after.

Some of his best works include Moll Flanders (1984), Aspects of Love (1989), The Years Rolled By (1999), The Dreaming (2001) and Goodbye For Now (2007).