Fire causes ‘extensive damage’ to Book of Mormon theater in New York | Broadway

A fire broke out Monday in the Broadway theater it houses The Book of Mormonforcing the longtime music scene to close, at least temporarily, while the popular venue is being renovated.

The fire, which started in the electrical room, “extremely damaged” the Eugene O’Neill Theater, according to David Simms, new York assistant firefighter. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“This was a very deep fire, involving a lot of electrical equipment,” Simms added. It was very difficult to get there. There were many roads and streets in the theater.

“Everyone has been safely removed from the theater,” the venue’s owner, ATG Entertainment, said in a statement. “We will keep everyone informed of the situation.”

The statement added that those involved in the project “will take time to assess the extent of the damage, and any news of operational disruptions will be announced soon”.

It is not yet known how long the 1,108-seat theater will be open for. The Book of Mormon prophet did not immediately respond to messages. The next scheduled show is on Tuesday.

Simms said most of the damage was limited to the fourth floor and a back room with light fixtures and hanging chandeliers. There was also water damage, he said.

Firefighters initially struggled to put out the blaze due to traffic and equipment in the theater, but were eventually able to get it under control, the spokesman said. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.

The Book of Mormon is one of Broadway’s longest-running shows, with more than 5,000 performances since it opened at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in 2011.

The theater, which opened in 1925, 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 other performances.