The Phantom of the Opera is 22 years old!

The Phantom of the Opera is 22 years old! The most successful stage musical of all time, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, celebrates its 22nd anniversary on 26 Jan 2010. 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. On Broadway, since its debut on 26 Jan 1988, The Phantom of the Opera has grossed over $750 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Total attendance is 13.5 million. Its international success is represented by total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion. This colossal figure makes Phantom 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 'Titanic' (at $1.2 billion) and such other blockbusters as' The Lord of the Rings,' 'Jurassic Park' and 'Star Wars.' Worldwide, over 65,000 performances have been seen by 100 million people in 27 countries and 144 cities. 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 $740 million and 13 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 and now 22 Years, as well as 8,000 and 9,000 performances (this past September). 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 John Cudia (The Phantom), Marni Raab (Christine Daae - played by Elizabeth Loyacano at some performances), Ryan Silverman (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny), George Lee Andrews (Monsieur Andre), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Patricia Phillips (Carlotta Giudicelli), Rebecca Judd (Madame Giry), Wayne Hobbs (Ubaldo Piangi) and Heather McFadden (Meg Giry). 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.