“The Book of Mormon” will resume performances on Wednesday, May 27, at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre following the May 4 fire that forced the long-running musical to temporarily suspend performances while the theater underwent repair work. The production had previously announced a May 21 reopening date.
According to producers, the fire was limited to the theater’s follow spot booth. Given the age and complexity of Broadway theaters, the production appears fortunate that the damage was contained enough to avoid a far longer shutdown, major structural repairs, or the need to relocate the show to another venue — and that no injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
Before the fire, “The Book of Mormon” had planned to celebrate its 15th anniversary with “Magical Mormon Mystery Week,” a series of special performances scheduled for June 9-14.
‘Beaches’ ends Broadway run early
“Beaches” played its final performance on Sunday, May 24, after just 28 previews and 38 regular performances at the Majestic Theatre.
Based on Iris Rainer Dart’s bestselling novel and the 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, the musical arrived on Broadway as a late surprise addition to the 2025-26 season. Despite recognizable source material and strong vocal performances from Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett, the musical received largely negative reviews and no Tony Award nominations.
The production also drew attention in recent days after Vosk revealed in an Instagram video that a “super-fan” had managed to gain unauthorized access to her dressing room backstage at the Majestic. Vosk described the incident as “really scary” and urged fans to respect performers’ privacy and backstage boundaries. The incident also reflected the ongoing debate surrounding Broadway’s stage door tradition, which has faced increased scrutiny in recent years over whether performers are expected or obligated to make themselves available to fans after performances and how audience expectations have evolved in the social media era.
‘Death Becomes Her’ to close in June
“Death Becomes Her” will conclude its Broadway run on June 28 after 20 months at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The lavish musical comedy, based on the 1992 cult film starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, will have played more than 650 performances.
Although the production received mixed reviews when it opened in November 2024, audiences embraced its campy humor, elaborate visual effects, and star performances. Produced on a notably expensive scale, with a capitalization of approximately $31.5 million, the show managed to survive for two Broadway seasons despite opening during a much more crowded and competitive new musical season than the unusually thin 2025-26 season.
The closing follows Megan Hilty’s departure from the production, with Betsy Wolfe taking over the role of Madeline Ashton opposite Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams. A national tour will launch in September.
‘Paranormal Activity’ to play Broadway
“Paranormal Activity” is headed to Broadway in the late summer. Inspired by the enormously successful horror film franchise, the play will begin performances Aug. 14, 2026, and officially open Sept. 15 for a limited 20-week run at the August Wilson Theatre.
The production arrives after commercial runs in London and several American cities, and appears designed less as a conventional play than as a theatrical horror event built around technical wizardry and sensory tension. Written by Levi Holloway (“Grey House”), the play tells an original story about a couple attempting to escape their past only to encounter paranormal forces in their new home.
