Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon” Announces Planned Reopening Date After Theater Fire

Dave QuinnFri, May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

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'The Book of Mormon' on Broadway
Credit: Gale Beery/Getty -

The Book of Mormon has canceled performances through May 20 after a fire caused significant damage to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre

Producers and theater owners ATG Entertainment said the show is planned to reopen on Thursday, May 21

The box office reopens May 15 with $15 tickets available for the first 50 people in line in honor of the show's 15th anniversary

The Book of Mormon is preparing to raise the curtain again after an electrical fire at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre forced the Broadway production to temporarily shut down earlier this month.

On Thursday, May 15, theater owners ATG Entertainment and producers of the hit musical announced that performances are now canceled through Wednesday, May 20 as repair work inside the theater continues after the May 4 blaze.

If the current timeline stays on track, The Book of Mormon will resume performances on Thursday, May 21, according to the announcement.

“The work inside the theatre is being completed by an extraordinary team that has made tremendous progress,” the statement read, noting that audiences will be if anything changes in the coming days.

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New York City firefighters respond to a fire in the Eugene OâNeill Theatre, where 'The Book of Mormon' performs, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Manhattan, New York City
Credit: Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty

The Eugene O’Neill Theatre box office, located at 230 West 49th Street, will also reopen to the public on Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m. local time. In-person ticket sales for performances to The Book of Mormon are currently being sold a few blocks away at the nearby August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street), home of Dog Day Afternoon.

To celebrate the show’s upcoming 15th anniversary, the first 50 people in line at the box office Friday will be able to purchase up to two $15 tickets for select performances throughout the summer.

ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon also thanked the FDNY and the Department of Buildings “for their help and cooperation throughout the repair efforts.”

The cast of the Book Mormon perform during 'The Book Of Mormon' 15th Anniversary Celebration Performance at Eugene O'Neill Theatre on March 19, 2026 in New York City
Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty

The musical first announced the cancellation of performances after a fire broke out at the theater around 10:30 a.m. on May 4. At the time, producers said the three-alarm blaze caused “significant damage” to the "follow spot booth of the O'Neill.”

Speaking in press conference, Assistant Chief David Simms said the fire began in an electrical room between the fourth and fifth floors of the building. Firefighters initially extinguished the inferno before discovering additional flames in a concealed space between the fifth floor and the roof.

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The fire was described as “deep-seated” and difficult to access due to the theater’s catwalks, rigging and electrical infrastructure.

'The Book of Mormon' at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in Times Square in August 2020
Credit: Noam Galai/Getty

Simms said the building would remain out of service pending repairs and an investigation by the Department of Buildings. He also noted there was substantial damage to the theater's fourth-floor electrical room, along with water damage throughout portions of the venue, though he stressed that much of the damage would not be visible to audience members.

One firefighter sustained a minor injury, and was transported to a local hospital, Simms added. All other theater personnel were unharmed.

As for the exact cause of the fire, that remains under investigation.

The Eugene O'Neill Theatre is one of Broadway's oldest houses.

Built in 1925, the 1,066-seat venue was originally named the Forrest Theatre after famed 19th-century tragedian Edwin Forrest. It was later renamed in 1959 for playwright Eugene O'Neill, widely considered the father of modern American drama.

Over the decades, the theater has housed a number of acclaimed theatrical hits including the original productions of She Loves Me (1963), The Odd Couple (1966), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1971), Annie (1981), Little Me (1982), Big River (1985), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), M. Butterfly (1988), The Full Monty (2000) and Spring Awakening (2006).

The Book of Mormon has been playing there since its debut in February 2011. The comedy is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and has a special week-long event scheduled for next month that will see original stars — including Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James and Rory O’Malley — returning to the musical for special guest appearances.

Tickets for The Book of Mormon are on sale now.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”