Fire at Eugene O'Neill Theatre forces cancellation of next 2 'Book of Mormon' shows

An electrical fire that broke out Monday at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in Manhattan temporarily has closed the home of "The Book of Mormon" and forced cancellation of at least the next two performances.

The fire at the six-story, 1,108-seat theater, at 230 W. 49th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, was reported just after 10 a.m.

The theater, which has housed "The Book of Mormon" since 2011, will be out of operation for "some time," FDNY Assistant Chief David Simms said.

There was no scheduled performance on Monday.

"Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the cast and company of The Book of Mormon and our audiences," said Jim Byk, a spokesman for the show, in a statement, "The Book of Mormon will be canceled on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6. ... Ticket holders will be notified by point of purchase for exchanges or refunds."

Simms, speaking at a news conference outside the theater, said one firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. All theater personnel were accounted for and safe, he said.

Firefighters encountered the fire in the electrical room between the fourth and fifth floors, which contained lighting equipment and chandeliers. They knocked down the initial blaze, but fire spread through the walls and into the roof, the FDNY said. A third alarm transmitted at 10:51 a.m. brought 63 units and almost 200 FDNY and EMS personnel to the scene by noon, according to the department.

"This was a deep-seated fire involving a lot of electrical equipment. It was very difficult to get to; there was a lot of catwalks and rigging in the theater," Simms said.

In a post on X, the FDNY said: "The building sustained substantial damage in the electrical room along with additional water damage."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A spokesperson for ATG Entertainment, which owns the theater operator, Jujamcyn Theaters, said: "Everyone has been safely removed from the theater. We will keep all parties abreast of this developing situation." Jujamcyn has operated the O'Neill since 1982.

Byk, in an email to Newsday, said the show is not expected to be moved to another location.

"The production team for 'The Book of Mormon,' in consultation with theater owner ATG Entertainment, will take time to assess the extent of the damage," Byk added.

The theater first opened as the Forrest Theatre in 1925, designed by Herbert J. Krapp and constructed as one of six theaters planned by the Shubert brothers. Originally named for 19th-century Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest, it was later known as the Coronet Theatre before being renamed for American playwright Eugene O’Neill in 1959 — the first to be named for a playwright, according to the official Times Square NYC website.

Once owned by playwright Neil Simon, the theater underwent a restoration in 1994.

It was designated a New York City landmark on Dec. 8, 1987.