Phantom celebrates 35 Years on Broadway

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera has celebrated it’s 35th birthday on Broadway.

Last night, 26 January 2023, saw the 35th anniversary performance of the show – and the cast marked the milestone at the end of the show with a giant cake!

It was a poignant anniversary – as this 35th birthday is to be the last for this grand Broadway show.The show had originally announced that it was set to close on Broadway in February, but has subsequently extended its run due to audience demand. The longest-running show in Broadway history will now shutter on 16 April 2023 at the Majestic Theatre.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a novel by Gaston Leroux, first published in 1909. It tells the story of a mysterious, disfigured man who haunts the Paris Opera House and becomes obsessed with a young soprano named Christine Daaé. The Phantom, also known as Erik, is a genius musician and inventor, and he uses his talents to manipulate and control those around him, including Christine and her love interest, Raoul. The novel explores themes of love, obsession, and the supernatural, and culminates in a dramatic confrontation between the Phantom and those who seek to unmask him. It has been adapted into numerous films, musicals, and other works of art.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, since it opened on 26 January 1988 the show will have played 13,981 performances by the time it closes.

The Broadway cast currently stars Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, Jason Forbach as Raoul (Paul Adam Schaefer returns December 7, and John Riddle returns January 2), Nehal Joshi as Monsieur André, Craig Bennett as Monsieur Firmin, Raquel Suarez Groen as Carlotta Giudicelli, Maree Johnson as Madame Giry, Carlton Moe as Ubaldo Piangi, and a rotating cast as Meg Giry including Sara Etsy. At certain performances Julia Udine plays the role of Christine.

The show has been seen by over 145 million people since it opened in London in 1986. Phantom is the West End’s third longest-running show, behind The Mousetrap and Les Miserables.

The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, direction by Harold Prince, choreography by Gillian Lynne, and set and costume designs by Maria Björnson.