Photo by Joan Marcus
Arguably the most iconic musical in the Andrew Lloyd Webber canon, the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera just celebrated its 30th Anniversary at Her Majesty's Theatre in London and the Broadway production at the Majestic Theatre is certainly not far behind. With almost 12,000 performances to date, it is by far the longest-running Broadway show in history and it's about high time it was named our #ShowOfTheWeek!
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber currently enjoys the rare distinction of having three musicals playing simultaneously on Broadway, with the additions of Cats and School of Rock. There are also whispers from the rumour mill that the recent Glenn Close-led revival of Sunset Boulevard at the London Coliseum may also be making its way over the pond next year, bringing the total up to four. There's just no stopping the Lord, it seems.
At the 1988 Tony Awards, The Phantom descended upon the Broadway community and left with a total of seven Tonys in hand - most notably in the categories of "Best Musical," "Best Actor in a Musical" (for Michael Crawford) and "Best Direction of a Musical" (for Harold Prince). Interestingly, in a particularly strong year for new musicals and musical revivals, Lord Webber's original score came up short to Sondheim's Into The Woods, Dame Gillian Lynne's choreography admitted defeat to Anything Goes and Sarah Brightman didn't even receive a nomination for her Christine Daaé. History has since confirmed that awards don't necessarily mirror popular culture or the appetites of global audiences.
One of the riding factors of The Phantom's longevity on Broadway is the production's timelessness. Although you are well aware you are witnessing a masterpiece from yesteryear that may not have that fresh feel you get from a 'Hamilton' or a 'Book of Mormon,' when you visit the Majectic Theatre, you also don't feel like you're watching something too dated for 2016. Thirty years on, the production values of the show still offer a spectacle for theatre aficionados and tourists alike, with candles rising from the eerie mist and chandeliers crashing down from the ceiling. I wait with great anticipation to find out if the musical will indeed feel too dated in another thirty years' time.
Until then, we can all relish in that unrelenting score played live eight times a week, drilling those classic melodies into our minds over and over again until we simply surrender to "The Music of the Night." And for that, we are thankful.
By the way... Fitness Fans take note: SoulCycle will present a Phantom of the Opera-themed ride at the company's West 77th Street location (350 Amsterdam Ave) on Monday 7th November! Cast members are also scheduled to participate, so make sure you register your interest to attend at www.soul-cycle.com.
Click here for tickets to The Phantom of the Opera through to 11 March 2017 at Broadway's Majestic Theatre.
James Barbour in The Phantom of the Opera More Production PhotosOriginally published on