To commemorate the milestone, a gala celebration for the company, hosted by producers Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, will take place in Philadelphia following the Dec. 17 performance.
John Cudia heads the 36-member company as The Phantom, with Marni Raab as the young soprano Christine and Michael Gillis as Raoul. Also featured is Kim Stengel as Carlotta Giudicelli, Bruce Winant as Monsieur Firmin, D.C. Anderson as Monsieur André, Patti Davidson-Gorbea as Madame Giry, John Whitney as Ubaldo Piangi and Kate Wray as Meg. At certain performances, Sarah Lawrence plays the role of Christine.
The tour launched 14 years ago (this is the start of the 15th year) in 1992 at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre.
The winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Phantom of the Opera is currently in its 18th year on Broadway.
On Jan. 9, 2006, The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats' record-holding run of 7,485 performances. The musical, based on the Gaston Leroux novel, has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Production design is by Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The Phantom of the Opera is currently at The Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia through Dec. 31. Tickets are on sale by calling Telecharge.com (800) 447-7400, online at www.telecharge.com or at the Forrest Theatre Box Office, 1114 Walnut St.
Following the Philadelphia run, The Phantom will haunt: