Fire Closes ‘Book of Mormon’ Theater on Broadway Indefinitely

“The Book of Mormon,” one of Broadway’s most successful shows, has been forced to close for an indeterminate period of time after an electrical fire on Monday resulted in significant damage to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, the musical’s home for the last 15 years.

“The building is going to be out of service, pending repairs,” said David Simms, an assistant chief at the New York Fire Department. “There’s been substantial damage on the fourth floor, in the electrical room, which contains lighting equipment and hanging chandeliers.”

In a joint statement, “The Book of Mormon” and the theater’s owner, Ambassador Theater Group, said they would “take time to assess the extent of the damage, and any news of disruption to performances will be announced as soon as possible.”

A poster for “The Book of Mormon” at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Broadway

The show won the Tony Award for best new musical when it opened in 2011, has been seen in the O’Neill Theater by nearly six million people.

The show opened in 2013 in London’s West End, where it has been seen by over four million theatergoers and is currently at the Prince of Wales Theatre.. The show also has touring companies in North America and Australia.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)