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Andrew Lloyd Webber responds to Mackintosh's Evening Standard article, says 'Phantom will re-open as soon as is possible'
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Composer **Andrew Lloyd Webber** [**took to Twitter**](https://twitter.com/OfficialALW) today to respond to **Cameron Mackintosh**'s recent *Evening Standard* article, in which he declared that [***The Phantom of the Opera***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/13/phantom-of-the-opera-tickets.aspx) would be [**permanently shutting down**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/the-phantom-of-the-opera-to-permanently-close-in-londons-west-end).
## Andrew Lloyd Webber: "As far as I'm concerned, *Phantom* will re-open as soon as is possible"
In a [**short tweet**](https://twitter.com/OfficialALW), the West End musical theatre impresario made a point to avoid the word "*permanently*" and instead stated the show would be re-opened "*as soon as is possible.*" The comment was in response to **Cameron Mackintosh**'s more pessimistic phrasing from yesterday, in which he wrote in [**an article for the *Evening Standard***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/the-phantom-of-the-opera-to-permanently-close-in-londons-west-end) that the show has had to "*permanently*" shut down but that he and **Lloyd Webber** were "*determined to bring it [Phantom] back to London in the future.*"
Although **ALW** made no reference to the words "*permanent*" or "*shutdown*," it's unclear when exactly "*as soon as is possible*" actually means or how it will be defined. What is known, however, is that *Phantom*'s London home, [**Her Majesty's Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/her-majestys-theatre-london), is in urgent need of renovations and that a period of extended closure is necessary.
### When and if *Phantom of the Opera* returns, will it be the same?
Lloyd Webber stated that he will do his best to preserve the "*brilliant original*" version of this 33-year-old musical, though it is still uncertain what exact version fans will get when and if *The Phantom of the Opera* does return.
The hit musical is famed for its toe-tapping musical numbers, including "All I Ask of You" and "The Music of the Night." The plot follows a phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House and becomes enchanted by a young soprano opera singer named Christine.