Phantom of the Opera is the first show in Broadway history to play 8,000 performances

Broadway's longest running musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, will become the first Broadway show ever to reach 8,000 performancess with its 2pm matinee on 4 Apr 2007.

The musical became the longest running musical in Broadway history when it played its 7486 on the 9 Jan 2006. The show is currently booking to 15 Sep 2007.

The Broadway production of The Phantom Of The Opera has grossed nearly $645 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Total attendance is at 11 million.

The Phantom Of The Opera had its world premiere on 9 Oct 2007 at Her Majesty�s Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards.

The New York production opened on 26 Jan 1988 with a then record advance of $18 million. The musical went on to sweep the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven including: Best musical, Best Actor (Michael Crawford), Best Featured Actress (Judy Kaye) and Best Direction (Harold Prince). The Phantom Of The Opera also won seven Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle Awards.

The original London cast recording was the first in British musical history to enter the charts at number one. It has since gone both gold and platinum in Britain and the U.S. selling over 25 million copies worldwide.

Only one Original cast member remians with the show, and that is George Lee Andrews. On opening night he played the role of Don Attilio, he is currently cast as Monsieur Firmin.

The Phantom Of The Opera stars Howard McGillin in the tile role with Jennifer Hope Wills as Christine and Michael Shawn Lewis as Raoul. At over 1,500 times, Mr. McGillin has performed the title role more than any other actor in the Broadway production.

Only one Original cast member remians with the show, and that is George Lee Andrews. On opening night he played the role of Don Attilio, he is currently cast as Monsieur Andre.

The musical also co-stars David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Anne Runolfsson (Carlotta), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry), Roland Rusinek (Piangi) and Heather McFadden (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Julie Hanson plays Christine.

The musical features book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe

In The Phantom Of The Opera a hideously deformed Phantom lurks beneath the stage of the Paris Opera, exercising a reign of terror over its occupants. The phantom falls in love with the young Soprano devoting himself to creating a new star for the Opera by nurturing her extraordinary talents and employing all the skills at his disposal.

Musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber announced on his website on the 9 Mar 2007 that he will write a sequel to the opera Phantom of the Opera that will be set in Manhattan and feature Christine and The Phantom.

The Phantom Of The Opera is directed by Harold Prince and has production design by the late Maria Bj�rnson, 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 musical is produced on Broadway by The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc.