Music Box Tour of Phantom announces closing

[BrianS]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 3:20am

The show will end its run on Nov 21st, 2010 in Los Angeles. Though it's early, congratulations on a phenomenal run to all involved.

Alan Wasser flew out to tell them personally.

Updated On: 2/5/10 at 03:20 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 3:34am

What is the reason for them closing down the tour? I would have trouble believing that it is due to money issues. Only saying that due to how long it has run.

[Justin D]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 8:47am

There were rumours about it closing last year also, obviously I hope this is not true, but if it is, then it had a long run. Maybe they will park it in LA for a while or another citi after LA for a nice sit down.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 9:39am

Wow. Surprised yet not. Link, please? And the correct use of "its" would also be nice.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 10:45am

I guess it will play the Ahmanson?

[sopranobiz]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 11:33am

Is this really true? I was hoping it would make a Boston stop before it closed.

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 11:49am

Is the tour coming to The Pantages? "Phantom" has come back to LA quite a few times since the record breaking 4 & 1/2 year run at The Ahmanson.

How long has this tour been going on?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 12:06pm

Since 1989 or 1990, I think.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 12:17pm

"Since 1989 or 1990, I think."

Later, I think more like 1993. The 2nd National Tour opened in Chicago in 1990 for about a year before touring, and the 3rd opened to meet the demands for the smaller markets.

***EDIT

The 3rd National Company of The Phantom of the Opera opened in December of 1992 in Seattle. Updated On: 2/5/10 at 12:17 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 12:53pm

That's amazing that a tour can run for so many years. All those actors, crew, musicians and theatre personnel who had jobs. And, all the millions and millions of people who went to the theatre. WOW!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 12:56pm

Ah yes. Thanks, Fosse!

I'm kind of surprised it's lasted this long if only because the Les Miz tour closed back in 2006.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 1:20pm

I was under the impression though that the Les Miserables tour and The Phantom tour closed for different reasons. While I am not 100 per cent sure why the Phantom tour is closing or even if it is true (due to lack of a link). I had always thought that they closed the Les Miserables tour so that the sets could be used in the Broadway revival.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 1:34pm

That may have been part of it, but also the Les Miz tour had had trouble booking the summer months for its final few years, so they'd done a hiatus every year. I'm not sure how well Phantom has been doing, but they did cut short a Baltimore (or Washington DC?) stop semi-recently.

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 2:32pm

The news of the tour closing is true. I spoke with my friend yesterday who is in the cast who told me thay had gotten the news. I can't find any public announcement yet but it is in fact closing. Sad that it's closing but that's a pretty good closing notice for the cast & crew (9 months).

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 3:49pm

"I'm not sure how well Phantom has been doing, but they did cut short a Baltimore (or Washington DC?) stop semi-recently."

I do know that when it was last in Chicago, the theater was barely ever half-full and that there were comments that it was probably the last time the tour would play Chicago. So it's not too surprising, but still surprising a little bit.

[phantomcrazy14]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 5:46pm

Wow...this is kinda like a punch in the gut. I saw the touring production of Phantom in 2006 for my fist show, and it still to this day is my fave. show. I kinda understand though. When I saw it on October 14 (2009) in New York almost the entire rear mezzanine was empty. I feel like people think Phantoms been there for too long. I say it better stay though cuz it's Broadway's iconic show.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 6:05pm

^ Chorus Line is Broadway's Iconic Show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 6:10pm

Chorus Line is Broadway's Iconic Show.

No way. Not anymore. Phantom has completely surpassed it as the first thing people think of when they think of Broadway. You can argue that ACL is the better show, but that doesn't change the fact that Phantom is much more well known, and completely deserving of its iconic status, which it will keep until the day Wicked inherits it.
Updated On: 2/5/10 at 06:10 PM

[phantomcrazy14]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 6:14pm

^ Very true indeed.I agree A Chorus Line ran for a long time and is well known but The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history and it's had a super long run in London and on tour. If there ever comes a day when Phantom closes....nm I don't want to think about that.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 8:18pm

Cats and Les Mis were also longest running, iconic Broadway shows, and the world continued to spin on its axis after they closed, as it will when Phantom does.

[morosco]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 10:53pm

Tour will play The Pantages.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 11:00pm

I saw the tour a little over a year ago and left at intermission. It was in terrible shape.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 11:00pm

Did Phantom really close early in Chicago? That's the last time I saw it. Back in 07.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 11:00pm

I saw the tour a little over a year ago and left at intermission. It was in terrible shape.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/5/10 at 11:04pm

A Chorus Line is still the iconic Broadway musical.

Cats, Les Miz and Phantom are all West End imports.