One of Broadway’s most enduring institutions has gone dark. A fire at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on the morning of May 4, 2026, has forced all performances of The Book of Mormon to be canceled through Sunday, May 17 — and the building’s full vacate order means the show’s return date beyond that remains uncertain.
“On the morning of Monday, May 4, a fire was reported at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre,” the joint statement from ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon producers reads. “FDNY was immediately contacted, were on site within minutes, and quickly extinguished the fire. ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon extend their deepest thanks to the firefighters and emergency responders for their bravery and speedy response.”
The fire in the theater’s spotlight booth led to a full vacate order on the building from the New York Department of Buildings, with officials declaring it “not safe for people to be in the building until it is repaired.” A partial vacate order was also issued to the hotel adjacent to the O’Neill Theatre at 224 West 49th Street, with rooms 509 and 510 on the fifth floor sustaining damage from the fire spreading.
The show’s producers and ATG Entertainment said in a statement Wednesday night that all performances would be canceled through Sunday, May 17. Ticket holders for impacted performances would be able to get a refund or reschedule. There will be an additional update provided the week of May 10 regarding performances, which the producers and ATG anticipate will resume “in the coming weeks” at the 1,108-seat theater.
According to the FDNY, the fire initially broke out in an electrical room. No cause has been determined. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. No other injuries were reported. No performances were scheduled for the day of the fire, as The Book of Mormon is dark on Mondays.
The FDNY classified the incident as a three-alarm fire — signifying a significant fire involving large buildings and multiple floors, with a substantial presence of fire apparatus and firefighters on scene. The fire resulted in, per FDNY Assistant Chief David Simms, “substantial damage” to the building’s fourth floor, specifically a room that holds lighting equipment and hanging chandeliers.
The Tony Award-winning musical comedy began previews at the O’Neill on February 24, 2011, opening March 24 of that year. In the 15 years since, it has become one of Broadway’s most commercially successful and longest-running productions, a fixture of West 49th Street that has outlasted countless shows around it.
The venue owners and production are currently working with a team of industry professionals to begin repairs needed to the building. The full scope of the damage and the timeline for the theater’s restoration have not yet been publicly released.
Audiences holding tickets for performances between now and May 17 are urged to contact their point of purchase for refund or rescheduling options. A further announcement regarding the show’s status is expected from ATG and the production team during the week of May 10.
