Playing its 8,732nd performance at the house where the original South Pacific (and other legends) played, Phantom is the first Broadway production to have run 21 years. The musical based on the Gaston Leroux novel about a deformed genius in the catacombs of the Paris Opera House is the longest-running show in Broadway history (achieved in January 2006 when it surpassed the performance count of Cats, another Lloyd Webber musical).
The Broadway cast and crew will celebrate the latest milestone with a private party Jan. 26.
In August 2008 producers Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. installed a new Digital Sound System (at an investment of $750,000) to bring the production's sound design technology into the 21st century. (The same was done in London in May 2008.)
Composer Lloyd Webber is currently working on a sequel to Phantom called Phantom: Love Never Dies. Jack O'Brien will direct.
Phantom, which won seven 1988 Tony Awards including Best Musical, "tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command." The Phantom of the Opera stars Howard McGillin in the title role with Marni Raab as Christine and Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul. McGillin holds the record for having performed the title role more than any other actor in the Broadway production — more than 2,300 times. The musical also co-stars George Lee Andrews (the only cast member to have been with the Broadway production for the entire run) as Monsieur André; David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Patricia Phillips (Carlotta), Rebecca Judd (Madame Giry), Evan Harrington (Piangi) and Polly Baird (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Elizabeth Loyacano plays Christine.
The musical has music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and book by Richard Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber.
The regular performance schedule for The Phantom of the Opera is Monday and Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM and Tuesday evenings at 7 PM with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM.
For tickets, $26.25-$121.50, call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200, visit www.telecharge.com or visit The Majestic Theatre box office (247 West 44th Street).
For more information visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.
