The final curtain came down Sunday on New York’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ending Broadway’s longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts and gold and silver confetti.

The masked man of Broadway is going out strong.

COVID-19 vaccinations and masks will be required for all Broadway audience members when theaters reopen in the coming weeks.

LONDON The Phantom of the Opera composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has told British lawmakers that the arts are at the point of no return, and urged the government to set a date for theaters to be allowed to reopen. Lloyd Webber spoke about the struggles of staging socially distanced shows and making them profitable, noting that very few shows hit the jackpot like Hamilton, Lion King or Phantom.We simply have to get our arts sector back open and running ... We are at the point of no return, really, he told Parliaments Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee by video. There comes a point when we really cant go on anymore. The theater boss hoped that the trial performance could show how theaters can open at full capacity safely. Asked about whether he has a message for the British government, Lloyd Webber said: Give us a date to reopen.

Shops and outdoor spaces such as zoos are now starting to reopen, but indoor venues remain closed because of social distancing rules that require people to remain two meters (6 feet) apart. The government says it's reviewing the distance rule amid pressure retailers, restaurateurs and others to cut it to one meter (three feet). A study released Wednesday by research firm Oxford Economics projected that the U.K.s creative industries could lose 74 billion pounds ($93 million) in revenue this year and a fifth of the U.K.s 2 million creative-sector jobs could disappear. Norbury and other culture-sector leaders called on the government to set up a cultural renewal fund and continue support programs that have supported self-employed people and furloughed workers during the lockdown. The Treasury plans to scale back the programs in the next few months.

Stream ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber for free this weekend onlyPublished: April 18, 2020, 6:04 pmPerformer Jonathan Roxmouth plays 'The Phantom' and Meghan Picerno plays 'Christine Daae' in the musical, "The Phantom Of The Opera" during a media preview at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera," staged at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2011, is now available to stream free on YouTube for this weekend only. The free musical is available on Webber's "The Shows Must Go On" YouTube channel. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera," staged at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2011, is now available to stream free on YouTube for this weekend only. The free musicals began on April 3 with Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" on April 10.