2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown: #5 - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA & INTO THE WOODS

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on the final of our featured major Best Musical match-ups with the granddaddy of them all, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and INTO THE WOODS.

Children Will Listen

No names matter more in the modern musical theatre than the names Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Each has ascended to the topmost heights of success in the theatre, with both Sondheim and Lloyd Webber's peerless resumes both rife with artistic experiments and audacious endeavors ranging from singing cats and murderous barbers to fairy tales and horror stories come to vivid musical life - particularly, as seen in 1988; an actual case in point. Never had the two masters faced off at the Tony Awards in so many categories as they did that year - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and INTO THE WOODS competed in nearly every major category at that year's ceremony, from Best Musical to Best Score, Best Book, Best Director and beyond. While the ultimate winner of the night may have been THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, INTO THE WOODS succeeded in taking home trophies in many of the major categories, too - among them, Best Actress In A Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Indeed, 1988 was a much more evenly split ceremony than the pummeling suffered by CHICAGO at A CHORUS LINE's hand in 1976 or the almost outright sweep of 1984 with the battle between LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and Sondheim & James Lapine's previous collaboration, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. True, PHANTOM walked away with seven major awards in 1988 and runs to this day on the Great White Way, but the artistic and commercial success of INTO THE WOODS, both originally and in its subsequent regional mountings, is not to be underestimated simply because it had the misfortune of premiering on Broadway in the same season as what would go on to become the most successful entertainment of all time.

Yes, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the world's most successful entertainment - having grossed more than any other stage show, TV show, movie or album - and the magic captured in a bottle by director Hal Prince byway of the masterful original production in the West End and on Broadway cannot be overestimated. Nor can the buzz-worthy, blisteringly emotional performance by Michael Crawford be undersold in the telling of the tale of how PHANTOM went from popular hit musical to contemporary icon in a few short decades. After all, perhaps more than with any other musical before or since, Broadway virgins are ushered into the alluring world of the theatre through this enduring long-runner and if only for that reason PHANTOM remains an integral part of theatre as it exists today. It's a fixture - and a particularly phantastic one at that.

Also, INTO THE WOODS, too, will be reaching a whole new audience next year when Rob Marshall's feature film version hits the big screen at long last - with no less than Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp involved - while PHANTom Continues to consistently sell out on Broadway, on tour and on stages around the world.

Both THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and INTO THE WOODS are expert examples of the best of Broadway living on in our hearts and minds long after the Tony Awards ceremony has ended and we have their genius creators to thank for that - and so much more.

The 2013 Tony Awards air Sunday, June 9, at 8 PM on CBS. More information is available at the official site here.

The Music Of The Night

So, now, let's take a look at the best moments from Tony Awards telecasts past pertaining to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and INTO THE WOODS and the 1988 Tony Awards race.

First up, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman perform a medley of melodies from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

The Phantom himself, Michael Crawford, graciously accepts his well-earned Tony Award for Best Actor In A Musical.

Next, enjoy host Angela Lansbury narrating an extensive sequence from INTO THE WOODS.

John McMartin and Vanessa Williams lead the 2002 revival cast of INTO THE WOODS performing on that year's telecast - where they would also go on to win Best Revival Of A Musical.

Following that, enjoy Tony-winner Joanna Gleason join original Baker Chip Zien for a reprise of "It Takes Two" from INTO THE WOODS at the SONDHEIM! Birthday Concert in 2010.

Enjoy Hal Prince's ceremonious letter as read by Broadway Phantom Hugh Panaro in honor of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA's groundbreaking 10,001 performance.

Also on the reunion theme, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman attend the 25th Anniversary production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in 2011, introduced by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

So, could you possibly choose between these two sensational Best Musical nominees if you were a Tony Voter back in 1988? Would THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA lull you into submission or does INTO THE WOODS cast the most powerful spell over you? Why not enjoy both shows - as well as Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, for that matter - simply because they are so uniquely magical? They are truly two of Broadway's best!