NEW YORK (AP) — A fire broke out Monday in the Broadway theater that hosts “The Book of Mormon,” forcing the long-running musical to close, at least temporarily, as the historic venue undergoes repairs.
The blaze, which began in an electrical room, caused “substantial damage” to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, according to New York Fire Department Assistant Chief David Simms. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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Firetrucks are parked outside of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David Martin)
Firetrucks are parked outside of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David Martin)
Firetrucks are parked outside of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David Martin)
FILE - The Eugene O'Neill theater sits with its marquis lights turned off during the "Broadway for Earth" hour in New York, March 27, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman, file)
FILE - In this March 16, 2011 photo, Trey Parker, right, and Matt Stone, co-creators of the Broadway show "The Book of Mormon," pose for a portrait outside the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, file)
“Everyone has been safely removed from the theater,” the theater’s owner, ATG Entertainment, said in a statement. “We will keep all parties abreast of this developing situation.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how long the 1,108-seat theater would be out of operation. A spokesperson for “The Book of Mormon” did not immediately respond to messages. The show’s next scheduled performance is Tuesday.
Simms said the damage was largely confined to the fourth floor area and a backroom containing lighting equipment and dangling chandeliers. There was some water damage as well, he said.
Firefighters initially struggled to knock down the flames due to catwalks and rigging in the theater, but were eventually able to bring it under control, he said. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
“The Book of Mormon” is among Broadway’s longest running shows, with more than 5,000 performances since opening at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in 2011.
The theater, which opened in 1925, has previously hosted productions of “Sweeney Todd,” a revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” and the rock musical “Spring Awakening,” among many other performances.
Firetrucks are parked outside of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David Martin)
Firetrucks are parked outside of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David Martin)
Firetrucks are parked outside of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York on Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David Martin)
FILE - The Eugene O'Neill theater sits with its marquis lights turned off during the "Broadway for Earth" hour in New York, March 27, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman, file)
FILE - In this March 16, 2011 photo, Trey Parker, right, and Matt Stone, co-creators of the Broadway show "The Book of Mormon," pose for a portrait outside the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, file)
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — The assault trial of Stefon Diggs began Monday with a prosecutor describing how his private chef was slapped and put in a headlock while lawyers for the former New England Patriots wide receiver insisted he was innocent and that the violent attack never happened.
The four-time Pro Bowl wideout has pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from the December incident. A jury was selected earlier Monday and received its instructions.
The 33-year-old Diggs declined to speak to reporters as he arrived at Norfolk County District Court in Dedham, a Boston suburb.
Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue said the chef, Mila Adams, would testify how Diggs had entered her bedroom, slapped her and put her in a headlock that made breathing difficult before throwing her on the bed.
“It's your job to determine what happened on Dec. 2,” Virtue told the jury in his opening statement.
Diggs' attorney, Andrew Kettlewell, insisted that his client did nothing wrong and that he never attacked his chef. Kettlewell said that no one in the house at the time of the alleged attack saw or heard anything out of the ordinary and there was no evidence of the attack. There are no medical records nor photos or video documenting the attack.
“The assault that the Commonwealth described in their opening statement never happened. It did not happen,” Kettlewell said.
Instead, Kettlewell described a brewing dispute between Adams and members of Diggs' entourage that came to a head on Dec. 2 when Adams learned she would not be part of a week-long trip the wideout was taking to Miami. He also alleged that Adams demands for money increased in the weeks after she filed a police report and urged the jury not to be influenced by the fact that Diggs was a rich football player.
“Just like any other person in this country rich or poor, Mr. Diggs sits here an innocent man and any preconceptions or feelings you have about athletes, wealth or anything else has to be put aside and not let interfere with the oath you just took as jurors” Kettlewell said.
Adams took the stand and recounted how Diggs came into her room and attacked her after the two had exchanged a series of angry texts earlier in the day. She said Diggs “smacked me with an open hand” and then choked her.
“When I went up to block him, he took his arms and came around my neck and he began to choke me,” said Adams, who grew emotional as she described what she called an “assault.”
Judge Jeanmarie Carroll repeatedly told the jury to disregard parts of her testimony that she deemed went beyond the scope of the questions asked.
According to court records, the chef told officers that she and Diggs had argued about money he owed her for work. During the Dec. 2 encounter at his home in Dedham, Massachusetts, she said, he “smacked her across the face” and then “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck,” leaving her feeling short of breath. She told officers she had trouble breathing and felt she could have blacked out.
Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with New England last year and was a key target for quarterback Drake Maye during the Patriots’ AFC East title run. Before joining the Patriots, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and played for the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2024.
Diggs’ 1,000-yard season with the Patriots marked the seventh of his career. It helped complete a successful career revival after a season-ending knee injury derailed what turned out to be a one-year stay with the Houston Texans in 2024.
Diggs, who led the team with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards receiving with four touchdowns in his only season with the Patriots, was released by the team in March. Diggs posted a goodbye on social media, thanking the Patriots for the season and saying: “We family forever.”
Diggs has yet to sign with another team.
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs returns to Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs arrives at Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs arrives at Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs arrives at Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs arrives at Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs arrives at Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
