Andrew Lloyd Webber with son Nicholas Lloyd Webber; the closing performance ofThe Phantom of the Opera.Photo: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock; Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images
ThePhantom of the Operatook its final bow onBroadwaySunday evening — andAndrew Lloyd Webberdedicated the performance to his late son,Nicholas Lloyd Webber.
After 35 years and nearly 14,000 performances that made it the longest-running show in Broadway history,Phantomplayed for the final time at the Majestic Theatre in New York City, where Andrew, 75, dedicated the curtain call to Nick, whodied last month at age 43 from gastric cancer.
“I hope you won’t mind if I dedicate this performance to my son, Nick,” Andrew told attendees, according toDeadline.
Then, turning to his ex-wifeSarah Brightman— who originated the role of Christine Daaé in the musical — Andrew recalled, “When Nick was a little boy, he heard some of this music.”
“Yes, he did,” responded Brightman, 62, per the outlet. “When Andrew was writing it, he was right there. So his soul is with us. Nick, we love you very much.”
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Andrew Lloyd Webber.Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images
Back in September 2022, it was announced thatPhantomwould betaking its final bow in 2023. By November, the musical hadgotten a two-month extension.
It won theTony Awardfor best musical and later inspired a 2004Joel Schumacher–directed movie adaptation, which starredEmmy Rossum,Gerard Butler,Patrick WilsonandMinnie Driver.
John Riddle, Laird Mackintosh and Emilie Kouatchou at the closing performance ofThe Phantom of the Opera.Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images
Andrewannounced his son’s deathin a statement shared with PEOPLE on March 25.
“I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital,” he said at the time. “Hiswhole family is gathered togetherand we are all totally bereft.”
“Thank you for all your thoughts during this difficult time,” added the iconic composer and impresario.
Nick was the son of Andrew andSarah Hugill, whom Andrew was married to from 1971 to 1983.
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AfterPhantom’s final performance, Andrew said, per Deadline, “Thank you to absolutely everyone who has made this extraordinary run possible.”
“It is just amazing really what has happened, and in the last few months I don’t think any of us thoughtthatPhantomwould go out quite with the bangit has,” he continued.
Hinting at how the show could one day make a return, as many Broadway musicals have over the years, Andrew noted, “It may come back — you never know.”
“What I would like to say is if it was going to go out with a bang, it couldn’t have gone out with a better performance,” he added.
source: people.com
