The Phantom of the Opera celebrates 19 years on Broadway

Broadway's longest running musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, turned 19 years old on 26 Jan 2007 and on that date will have played 7,923 performances. The musical opened at the Majastic Theatre on 26 Jan 1988, it is currently booking to 21 Jul 2007.

The musical became the longest running musical in Broadway history when it played its 7486 on the 9 Jan 2006, on the 21 Jan 2006 it became the only Broadway musical to play more then 7,500 performances.

When The Phantom Of The Opera opened in 1988 it won seven Tony Awards including: Best musical, Best Actor (Michael Crawford), Best Featured Actress (Judy Kaye) and Best Direction (Harold Prince).

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 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.

The Phantom Of The Opera currently features Howard McGillin (The Phantom), Jennifer Hope Wills (Christine Daae - played by Julie Hanson at some performances), Michael Shawn Lewis (Raoul), Anne Runolfsson (Carlotta Giudicelli), George Lee Andrews (Monsieur Firmin), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry), Heather McFadden (Meg Giry), Roland Rusinek (Ubaldo Piangi).

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.