A fire broke out on Monday at the Broadway theater housing The Book of Mormon, forcing the long-running musical to close temporarily as repairs are made to the historic venue.
Fire Details and Damage
The blaze began in an electrical room at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, causing what David Simms, assistant chief of the New York fire department, described as "substantial damage". The cause of the fire remains under investigation. "This was a deep-seated fire, involving a lot of electrical equipment," Simms said. "It was very difficult to get to. There was a lot of catwalks and rigging in the theater."
Damage was largely confined to the fourth-floor area and a backroom containing lighting equipment and chandeliers, with some water damage also reported. Firefighters initially struggled to suppress the flames due to the catwalks and rigging but eventually brought the fire under control. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
Safety and Closure
"Everyone has been safely removed from the theater," said ATG Entertainment, the building's owner, in a statement. "We will keep all parties abreast of this developing situation." The statement added that those involved with the production would "take time to assess the extent of the damage, and any news of disruption to performances will be announced as soon as possible."
It is not yet clear how long the 1,108-seat theater will be out of operation. A spokesperson for The Book of Mormon did not immediately respond to messages. The show's next scheduled performance was Tuesday.
History of the Theater and the Show
The Book of Mormon is among Broadway's longest-running shows, with over 5,000 performances since opening at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in 2011. The theater itself opened in 1925 and has hosted productions of Sweeney Todd, a revival of Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and the rock musical Spring Awakening, among many others.
