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Broadway shows including The Phantom of the Opera have posted closing notices as tourism has failed to bounce back in New York City in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Democrat-controlled city is currently in the midst of a violent crime surge — fueled by spikes in robberies, shootings, assaults, and rape — that has kept many visitors away. Shows are also experiencing soaring costs due to record-high inflation caused by President Joe Biden.
In addition to Phantom , other shows that are closing or have recently closed include the musicals Beetlejuice , Come from Away , and Dear Evan Hansen .
Phantom , which is the longest-running show in Broadway history, recently announced that it will close its doors in February after 35 years and more than 13,000 performances. In an interview with the New York Times , producer Cameron Mackintosh blamed falling ticket sales as well as inflation, saying the weekly cost of running the show has hit $950,000 — an increase of about $100,000 from the pre-pandemic years.
He said weekly box office sales are “down 10 to 15 percent on average.” To all our #PhantomBroadway fans around the world: We are overwhelmed by the amount of love and memories you have shared over the past week. After 13,925 performances, The Phantom of the Opera will be closing on February 18, 2023. pic.twitter.com/0o4Jp5SPjJ — The Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) September 20, 2022 Tourists account for the vast majority of Broadway revenue, with out-of-towners buying 63 percent of tickets, according to the Broadway League.
New York’s crime epidemic has not encouraged tourists from returning to the city post-pandemic. The New York Police Department recently reported that major crime is up 36 percent so far this year compared to last year, with rape jumping 10 percent, from 892 to 989, […]
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