Playbill: Thirty-five years ago, a new musical took the Broadway stage on the heels of its smash-hit success on the West End. The cultural response, both in London and New York was described as "Phantom-mania," with theatregoers around the nation buzzing about the spectacle-filled melodrama full of mystery, suspense, and romance.
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The Phantom of the Opera was an all-around iconic show in every sense of the word and more. The way that a single show can be so famous and become such a staple is very impressive. After reading this article and learning about all of the milestones Phantom reached during its run, I am even more impressed with and in awe of this show. There is no other show that could even compare with it. I remember hearing about all of the craziness that happened with the reopening after covid and Andrew Lloyd Webber DJing a block party and thinking that it was a very interesting idea and was a little surprised it happened. After reading about their milestones, I’m no longer surprised that such a famous show would throw such a crazy event. I’m curious to see what a post-Phantom Broadway will look like and I’m especially excited to see the closing night’s events.
Phantom of the Opera is just such a historical and iconic show in all countries. From the story that it is telling to the fascinating costume pieces and set that is presented on stage, there is no doubt that it is one of the most long standing on Broadway. Personally, I love this show dearly as the first group of BIPOC actor and actresses joined production on Broadway and that is such an impactful action to the entire theatrical community. It is truly sad to see it close as I love the costume dearly. It inspired me a lot throughout my process of designing for multiple productions. One of my closest friends loves this production dearly that she has seen it 14 times at this point. Originally, she was going to see the last show on Feb.18 but now with the extended time, she will be doing so on April 15.
The article about the history of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway is a fascinating look at one of the most successful and enduring musicals of all time. The show has been running for 35 years and has become a true Broadway classic, breaking records and making history along the way.
One of the things that makes Phantom of the Opera so special is the incredible talent behind it. The music, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is iconic and memorable, with hit songs like "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Think of Me" that have become classics in their own right. The show's visually stunning design and special effects, such as the chandelier, have also been a highlight of the production and have contributed to its success.
Another reason why Phantom of the Opera has been so successful is its universal themes and story. The story of the Phantom, a mysterious figure who haunts the Paris Opera House, and his obsession with the young soprano Christine, resonates with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It's a story of love, obsession, and the power of music that has been able to connect with audiences around the world.
Though I've never seen Phantom of the Opera (I don't even have an idea as to what happens in it), even I know that it's a staple of American theater. When you take a look at the numbers, it's impressive to see how many more performances Phantom of the Opera has had compared to not only an average Broadway show, but the longest-running shows that follow it (Wikipedia says that Chicago, the second-longest running Broadway show, is a good 3,000 performances behind Phantom of the Opera. It's fun to see the highlights of the show's career in this article. Of course, there are all of its incredible achievements, like its 7 Tony awards, but it includes the unique stuff too, like Whoopi Goldberg appearance and important milestones like the first black Christine. This is, in a way, the end of an era for American theater. Who knows what show will fill Phantom of the Opera's place as a symbol of theater now?
For me, Phantom of the Opera always has a special place in my heart because it was after the 25th Anniversary recording. But even before then I’ve heard of the show and watched it on Broadway before I even knew what Broadway was. When I was reading this, I can’t believe that the show has been on for so long, and to think that it celebrated its 25 years anniversary when I was 4 years old is so shocking. Personally, I’m really sad that the show is closing because it has been there for so long and holds such importance in the history of musical theatre. Some may argue that the story is cliché and outdated, but we can’t deny its significance – everyone, whether you are in this industry or not, knows about the falling chandelier. Recently, there is news about the ongoing process of producing Phantom of the Opera in China. The adaptation would be interesting, especially with translating lyrics into Chinese. Also, the 35th-anniversary poster looks funny because it looks like the Phantom is underwater, making me think of the Little Mermaid.
I owe so much to Phantom of the Opera. Watching the recording of the 25th Anniversary performance at the Royal Albert Hall was my first true conscious interaction with theater. I was enthralled in its elegance and beauty. Although I was too young at the time to fully understand everything, I continue to immensely enjoy the show to this day. It holds a huge amount of nostalgia for me. I’ve seen the show twice on Broadway and once on tour and I wish so much that I could see it again before it closes. As much as I cherish the recording at the Royal Albert Hall, I wish I had been able to see more of the Broadway production. Although I know I must accept the circle of life for productions, I cant help but find it difficult to accept. To me and so many others, the Majestic will be synonymous with Phantom for many years. After all, It has been on Broadway for 35c years now. Longer than many younger fans have been alive. I've never known Broadway without Phantom.
"The Phantom of the Opera" will truly be missed not only by those in the theatrical industry but outside of it as well. The amount of impact it has had on people's career decisions and how theater is portrayed now is truly astonishing and it has created an image and name for itself beyond that of theater. I had a great time learning and reading about all the accomplishments in which The Phantom of the Opera has made. Specifically, the times in which a black individual have played the role of the phantom. I wished there could have been more instances of BIPOC playing the lead roles within the musical before it came to its 35-year end. Though, nevertheless, the renditions of the musical and the visual composition of it all are impeccable. It is sad to see this musical go, but it has truly had a memorable run and this article does a great way in acknowledging its historical moments.
Congratulations to all current and former theatre makers involved with The Phantom of the Opera! I love how at each of the production's impressive milestones, the company continues to honor and celebrate everyone in the Phantom family. I remember how excited the internet was when Emilie Kouatchou made her debut, but I was surprised at how long it took for there to be a black Christine on Broadway. I wholeheartedly believe in celebrating these achievements and hope that the industry will continue to move in the direction of color-conscious casting. Especially for roles like Christine, where race does not impact the integrity of the character, it seems to me that the role would have been cast more diverse decades ago. My first technical director who I had in high school, always talked about how much she loves Phantom, and I hope if my production schedule allows, I will be able to travel to New York some weekend soon to watch it.
As others are saying, the 25th Anniversary recording is totally ingrained in me. Ramin and Sierra are two of my favorites. Phantom was a milestone in itself in so many ways. There is NOTHING like that overture in conjunction with the chandelier lift. Absolutely nothing. Say what you want about Phantom, but that’s one of the best and most iconic overtures in Broadway history. Such a stunning score that you can’t deny. Easily one of, if not my favorite things about Phantom is that in “Masquerade,” the entire back part of the staircase is just filled with mannequins. It looks like this gigantic ensemble, and you literally don’t notice it until you just look past Christine and go, “Jesus Christ, that’s just a bunch of mannequins.” I’ve always wondered why it’s Phantom that became a tourist attraction (the same question goes for Cats) - because it’s SO weird. Good weird, I love it, but there’s no way that it’s not disconcerting to come to New York for the first time to see Raoul being strangled by a magical lasso. To be so candid - I am unsurprisingly bitter that it beat Into the Woods. (Woods took Book and Score to even it out, so I guess it’s okay.) It will be dearly missed, though I believe the conspiracy that it may just be moving to a smaller theater and downsizing.
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