A month–long boom in downtown business is coming to an end. The Overture Center's production of "The Phantom of the Opera" closed its curtain for the last time Sunday night, following 32 performances.

Officials say 97–percent of the past week's available tickets were sold, which is well above the 75–to–85 percent they had expected to sell.

The show attracted both Madisonians and out–of–towners alike to the Capitol city's downtown area, bringing revenue to the Overture Center and area businesses.

"During the week, I would say we've done six times as many people, weekends are still huge, weekends have always been fairly busy, but now double or triple as many people," says Joe Doerman, manager of the White Horse Inn.

"We're an integral part of the downtown economic scene and the social life and social fabric of this community, and we feed off each other, the restaurants feed off the theatre, the theatre feeds off the restaurants, and the shops hopefully will benefit from both of us," says Bob D'Angelo of the Overture Center.

While both say they are glad that the rush is over, the increased business will be missed.

Area businesses hope visitors attracted by the show will continue to return to Madison to shop and dine.