The Phantom of The Opera Becomes Bway's Longest-Running Musical, Jan. 9

By: Nov. 15, 2005
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The Phantom of the Opera will become the longest-running show in Broadway history on Monday, January 9th, 2006; it will shatter the record held by Cats when it plays performance #7,486 Special Gala Performance to be followed by a Masked Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria.

"While many of the evening's details won't be announced for several weeks, the special night will begin with an early 6:30 PM performance at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), the musical's home for its entire run. The performance will be followed by a one-night-only onstage presentation being devised by the musical's creators to uniquely mark this historic occasion. Immediately following, guests will attend a glamorous Masked Ball in the world-renowned Grand Ballroom of the landmark Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (301 Park Avenue)," according to press notes.

Since its Broadway debut on January 26, 1988, The Phantom of the Opera has grossed nearly $600 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Total attendance is at 11 million. Its worldwide gross is $3.2 billion, making it 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 attendance is at over 80 million people. The Phantom of the Opera will also become the first Broadway production to reach its eighteenth anniversary on January 26th, 2006, a few weeks aftre the record-breaking.

Howard McGillin, who has played the title role on Broadway more than any other performer, will play the Phantom for the record-breaking performance. Sandra Joseph, who has played the role of Christine throughout the country including over 1,000 times on Broadway, will co-star. Joining them are Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul, George Lee Andrews )who has been with the show for the entire run) as Monsieur André, Tim Jerome as Monsieur Firmin, Anne Runolfsson as Carlotta, Marilyn Caskey as Madame Giry, Larry Wayne Morbitt as Piangi, Heather McFadden as Meg. (Currently on maternity leave, McFadden will return the first week in January. Until then, the role of Meg is being played by Kara Klein, direct from the national tour in her Broadway debut). At certain performances, Rebecca Pitcher, most recently Christine with the current national tour, plays the role of Christine.

The Phantom of the Opera had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988. The musical went on to sweep the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical. The original London cast recording was the first in British musical history to enter the charts at number one. It has since gone both gold and platinum in Britain and the U.S. selling over 25 million copies worldwide.

Base 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 show features 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 Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber. The musical has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan, with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Lloyd Webber.

The regular performance schedule for The Phantom of the Opera is Monday and Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets online at Telecharge or visit The Majestic Theatre box office (247 West 44th Street).


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