Two Broadway Shows Close After Lengthy Runs

Mamma Mia! and Liberation conclude their Broadway productions.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:31am

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Three Broadway productions - Mamma Mia! and Liberation - concluded their runs on February 1, 2026. Mamma Mia! played 12 previews and 196 regular performances at the Winter Garden Theatre, while Liberation completed 23 previews and 112 regular performances at the James Earl Jones Theatre.

Why it matters

The closing of these long-running shows marks the end of an era for both productions, as Mamma Mia! had been a mainstay on Broadway for over 14 years. The departure of these shows also signals a transition for the theaters that will soon host new productions.

The details

Mamma Mia!, a musical featuring the songs of ABBA, has captivated over 70 million people worldwide and is Broadway's ninth-longest running show of all time with a total of 5,773 performances across two theaters. Liberation, a critically acclaimed play that premiered off-Broadway, also concluded its Broadway run.

  • Mamma Mia! played 12 previews and 196 regular performances at the Winter Garden Theatre.
  • Liberation completed 23 previews and 112 regular performances at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
  • The shows concluded their runs on February 1, 2026.

The players

Mamma Mia!

A long-running Broadway musical featuring the songs of ABBA that captivated over 70 million people worldwide.

Liberation

A critically acclaimed play that premiered off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre Company and later transferred to Broadway.

Winter Garden Theatre

The theater that hosted Mamma Mia! for over 14 years.

James Earl Jones Theatre

The theater that hosted the Broadway production of Liberation.

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What’s next

The Winter Garden Theatre will soon host a revival of Death of a Salesman, while the James Earl Jones Theatre will welcome a new production titled The Fear of 13.

The takeaway

The closure of these long-running Broadway productions, while marking the end of an era, also demonstrates the ongoing dynamism of the theater district as new shows and revivals take their place.