The Phantom of the Opera celebrates 25 years on Broadway

The longest-running show in Broadway history, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, reaches an unprecedented milestone on 26 Jan 2013 when it celebrates its 25th anniversary on Broadway. The musical is the first Broadway production ever to have run 25 years.

The Phantom of the Opera opened at the Majestic on 26 Jan 1988, following previews from 9 Jan, and went on to sweep the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical.

Its international success is represented by total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5.6 billion. This colossal figure makes The Phantom of the Opera the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Avatar (at $2.8 billion).

Worldwide, over 65,000 performances have been seen by 130 million people in 28 countries and 148 cities in 13 languages. The flagship London production, which opened in 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre, celebrated 25 years in October 2011.

Since becoming the longest-running show in Broadway history in 2006 (when it surpassed the then-record run of 'Cats'), every performance has set a new longevity record. The show has always been a record-breaker, with the New York production setting benchmarks that have dominated the industry: for capitalization (a then-spectacular $8 million), total advance (a then-colossal $18 million), total gross and attendance (now a whopping $888 million and 15 million, and counting) and even the number of years before a single ticket was ever sold at the TKTS ticket booth in Times Square (over 14 years, which is still the record). It was also the first and remains the only Broadway show to reach 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and now 25.

There are currently six productions around the world: London (26 years and counting), New York, Budapest (Hungary), Kyoto (Japan), Seoul (Korea), and Cameron Mackintosh's all-new production of the musical which is currently enjoying a highly-acclaimed, record-breaking UK National Tour, which is planned to come to the U.S. in the not-too-distant future.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera 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 currently stars Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), *Sierra Boggess (Christine Daae), Kyle Barisich (Raoul), Jim Weitzer (Monsieur Andre), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Ellen Harvey (Madame Giry), Christian Sebek (Piangi) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry).
At certain performances the role of 'Christine Daae' is played by Samantha Hill.

The Phantom of the Opera has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Phantom of the Opera has production design by the late Maria Björnson, 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.