'The Book of Mormon' Delays Broadway Reopening Following Devastating Fire

The Book of Mormon has been temporarily shut down after a devastating fire broke out on May 4, revealing that it caused "significant damage." And now, the theater has further delayed the reopening after previously announcing they would reopen on Thursday, May 21.

On Tuesday, May 19, producers of the Tony-winning musical announced that performances are canceled through May 26 as they need to do more work following the electrical fire.

"Both parties were encouraged by the speed of initial work in the theatre, though recovery took longer than expected this past weekend," they said, according to PEOPLE, adding that they are "working diligently to ensure that the theatre will be safe and comfortable for the cast and company, the building's staff, and audiences."

The three-alarm fire occurred on May 4 at 10:30 a.m. in the spotlight room. Afterwards, Assistant Chief David Simms called the fire "deep-seated," adding that damage was done to the theater's fourth-floor electrical room. There was also water damage throughout the venue. A firefighter who responded to the blaze was injured and taken to a local hospital, but no theater personnel were harmed. The New York City Fire Department said that it was "not safe for people to be in the building until it is repaired."

At this time, production is set to resume on Wednesday, May 27, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, which is one of the most famous stages on Broadway, having housed shows such as The Odd Couple (1966), Annie (1981), Spring Awakening (2006), and many others.

The Book of Mormon is also about to hit a major milestone, with many of the show's original cast members, including Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James, and Rory O'Malley, set to return for guest appearances to celebrate the 15th anniversary.

The show originally opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in February 2011.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 4:55 AM.