THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Reopening Night Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 2:16pm

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera debuted in 1988, winning seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical.  The show, directed by the late Hal Prince, returns to Broadway on October 22 at the Majestic Theatre.

Returning to lead the cast are Ben Crawford as The Phantom, Meghan Picerno as Christine Daaé, and John Riddle as Raoul, with Bradley Dean as Monsieur André, Craig Bennett as Monsieur Firmin, Raquel Suarez Groen as Carlotta Giudicelli, Maree Johnson as Madame Giry, and Carlton Moe as Ubaldo Piangi. Sara Esty will join the company as Meg Giry.

Also joining the production in her Broadway debut is Emilie Kouatchou, who will play the role of Christine Daaé at certain performances. Kouatchou will be the first Black actor to play the role of Christine in the Broadway production. Lucy St. Louis recently became the first Black actor to play the role when she reopened the London production of Phantom as Christine last month.

The ensemble will include Giselle Alvarez, Polly Baird, Janinah Burnett, Xiaoxiao Cao, David Michael Garry, Chris Georgetti, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Katharine Heaton, Satomi Hofmann, Ted Keegan, Kfir, Kelly Loughran, Scott Mikita, Greg Mills, Justin Peck, Patricia Phillips, Richard Poole, Jessica Radetsky, Janet Saia, Paul A. Schaefer, Carly Blake Sebouhian, Jeremy Stolle, Carrington Vilmont, Jim Weitzer, Elizabeth Welch, and Erica Wong.

The complete Phantom orchestra—Broadway’s largest—also returns, under the continued musical supervision of David Caddick with the musical’s original orchestrations.


I am looking forward to seeing this at invited dress tonight.  This is my first time experiencing the New York production, so I would be unfamiliar with any changes/revisions, as some have speculated.  Nevertheless, it will be an exciting time for the longest-running show to continue its reign!

Updated On: 10/21/21 at 02:16 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 2:29pm

Folks are starting to get on my level with the reopening threads… not a bad thing at all!

Wind up that monkey music box and cue the dramatic organ… “Phantom” is back!

Perhaps we may summon back the ghost of so many years ago with a little conversation… gentlemen?

[ImAProphet]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 2:37pm

Jordan Levinson said: "Perhaps we may summon back the ghost of so many years ago with a little conversation… gentlemen?"

DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'm going tonight and tomorrow night and I am buzzing. Also really interested to see the extent of the rumored changes. And to finally see Meghan Picerno who I've missed on my last few visits to the Majestic.

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 2:39pm

Curious if they have tickets cheaper than lottery still? I remember before covid they had $29 tuesday & Thursday tickets with promo codes. 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 3:26pm

I'm going Friday and Saturday night!  and Meghan is my favorite Christine ever. The show is so near and dear to my heart that I hope I feel the same way about it afterward tomorrow. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 9:41pm

All I’ll say about tonight (since it was a dress rehearsal) is that applause for the chandelier lasted that whole opening sequence. Phantom’s back!

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 10:29pm

That's great! But we Phanatics are gonna need a *bit* more tea than that lol!   

Were there any tech stops? 

Have you seen the show before and if so did you notice any differences?

Did you find that the show had a lot of laughs? 

Did the two leads still go down the trapdoor stairs DSR at the top of the title number? 

Did you overhear any interesting comments?

Did people have their phones out recording, etc?

 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 10:52pm

I'm not a huge Phantom fan but I wish I could be in the audience for that opening chandelier scene on re-opening night and I hope a video surfaces. Enjoy to all who are going!

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 11:00pm

P.S. I am going to the 5pm Freestyle Love Supreme at the Booth on Saturday night and the Phantom at 5. If Freestyle starts ten minutes late and gets out at 6:40, do you think I'd be able to run around the block and get into the Majestic before 7pm? I would totally cancel my FLS if there is even a slight chance of being late to Phantom. 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 11:06pm

Unless FSL runs long (and I doubt it will, Lin Manuel and Chris Jackson were there when I saw it and it was still just about 90 minutes), you’ll be fine.

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 11:25pm

Phantom4ever said: "That's great! But we Phanatics are gonna need a *bit* more tea than that lol!

Were there any tech stops?

Have you seen the show before and if so did you notice any differences?

Did you find that the show had a lot of laughs?

Did the two leads still go down the trapdoor stairs DSR at the top of the title number?

Did you overhear any interesting comments?

Did people have their phones out recording, etc?

"


I got to go cause of some social media thing I did months ago, so while it’s not an official report since the show isn’t open yet, here’s what I noticed. I’ll probably have to see it again and take time to process the small changes . 

The outside of the theater pics now all have that broken glass feel that they use in London.

No tech stops, but Meghan’s mic had a bit of squeaky feedback during wishing. The rest of the show sounded fantastic though. 

There were a lot of small changes that were jarring to hear something different since I’ve seen the show dozens of times (ie in final lair “be my guest sir”, has been changed to something like “why of course sir” -why?) but really nothing HUGE that changed the integrity of the show.
 

The average theatergoer probably wouldn’t notice anything, but phans will probably be asking “what even was the point of such minor changes that didn’t really change or add much?” I sat next to a couple that hadn’t ever seen the show and they seemed like they loved it, so the magic isn’t gone, but I think a lot of phans will be scratching their heads. 

They kept in my least favorite part, where he pushes her face away in MOTN haha. That’s one thing I wouldn’t have cared about them changing and wished they would have!

Major things I remember are:

The first scene has more chaos in the background (especially while Carlotta does ToM)and Christine barely dances. She’s distracted most of the time. 

The first pair of body doubles that goes into the trap door after the mirror is gone. Instead, Raoul walks out of the dressing room and the ballerinas + madame giry walk by and Raoul kind of looks around and then the pair are up on the travelator. 

AIAOY was basically the same blocking but they reversed what side of the stage they were on from what I remember? Angel statue is in tact!. 

Masquerade choreography is slightly different but it still looks like a big party and they’ve changed that a couple of times. Most of the main stuff stayed the same. 

PONR had the biggest changes I noticed. There’s less wrist grabbing during his verse but the biggest changes are the end of Christine’s verse on the bench. The Phantom didn’t take her hands and rub them on his chest, she kind of felt the mask then he got up and walks up stage and she kind of beckoned him back up to center stage and hugged him instead of him dragging her. Then they part as normal once she reveals his mask. Instead of the managers begging her to stay on, they beckon her away and she waves them off and stays on stage with him, then the removal happens as normal. 

Minor lyric changes in final lair, and I don’t know if this is an official change but he didn’t use a candle to drop the noose? 
 

Im sure others will have more to report as the show opens tomorrow. I’m curious and excited to hear others thoughts. I still had a great time at the show, but felt a tiny bit disappointed with a few of the changes. 

[ImAProphet]

Posted: 10/21/21 at 11:26pm

Were there any tech stops?

No, but someone gave very brief direction over a speaker a couple of times.

Have you seen the show before and if so did you notice any differences?

This was my eighth viewing, seventh on Broadway. I did notice a handful, most of which were subtle lyric changes (a word or phrase here and there that didn't change the sentiment of the line) and some changes to appearances. For example some of the ballet have their hair tied up during the Hannibal rehearsal and Andre no longer has a mustache (unless this was a rehearsal thing).

The two most glaring things that I noticed were 1) after the Phantom pulls Christine into the mirror you see Raoul, Giry, and the ballet chorus walking back across the stage instead of the trap door scene and 2) the Phantom pulls the noose off of Raoul instead of burning it with the candle (another possible rehearsal thing, maybe the candle isn't ready yet somehow?)

I think there was some differing choreography as well but honestly I have a terrible memory for choreography and it's been almost two years since I've seen this.

Did you find that the show had a lot of laughs?

Not significantly more. I can think of one added joke.

Did the two leads still go down the trapdoor stairs DSR at the top of the title number?

See above.

Did you overhear any interesting comments?

Not really.

Did people have their phones out recording, etc?

No, it was a smallish and well-behaved audience.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 12:41pm

ABC7 NY just did a report on Phantom, and they mentioned a post-show event featuring ALW.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 1:16pm

Unless outlets pick it up tomorrow morning and post, I'm sure it's a good idea for people to keep an eye on the Phantom social channels and turn their notifications on for anything they may do live this evening.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 1:51pm

I hope people are so excited to be there that they don’t film and respect the actors who have worked so hard to be there.

I will be there tonight and I’m SO excited

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 7:10pm

There is a red carpet going on outside the Majestic right now.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 7:55pm

Every seat here has a long stemmed red rose, messenger bag, face mask and “Phantom mask” and playbills gave gold reopening stickers on them.

[saxpower]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 10:55pm

The official Instagram has footage of the chandelier rising with the crowds reaction

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 11:04pm

saxpower said: "The official Instagram has footage of the chandelier rising with the crowds reaction"

What an iconic moment in the reopening of New York City! And it’s taken from Box 5… hasn’t it been said a gazillion times by now that area should be left empty?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 11:20pm

Well, that was one for the history books. I’ll write more when I get home in a bit, but if you’re in Midtown head over to the theater because Andrew Lloyd Webber is DJing a block party outside right now.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 11:21pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Every seat here has a long stemmed red rose, messenger bag, face mask and “Phantom mask” and playbills gave gold reopening stickers on them. "

I didn't get a face mask... I noticed people taking them from other seats. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 11:36pm

Oh, there was some major hoarding going on preshow which was really not fair.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/22/21 at 11:48pm

The show started with ALW and Cameron Mackintosh coming out to make a really nice speech and they brought out Chuck Schumer to talk for a few Minutes, as well. I expected Webber but not Cameron so that was a nice surprise.

Everyone got very loud (but very respectful) recognition when entering and most songs got a very extended applause at the end. The show ended about 10:55 which isn’t bad with everything - they really managed to keep it tight.

The only thing that went “wrong” was a technical glitch where you kept hearing this loud buzzing feedback in the speakers. It happened more than a few times for a while so I hope they can figure that out.

Y’know, with all the reopening I’ve been at with speeches and they all say some variation of “Broadway is back!” and the crowd goes wild. But this was different. When ALW said Phantom is back so Broadway is back - YES. And the whole night even leaving the theater and being handed Phantom cookies and walking out to Andrew Lloyd Freakin’ Webber shutting down 44th St. to DJ a block party where the celebration continued and everyone could be loud and dance and sing, yeah. Broadway IS back. This was the grand reopening we needed and I absolutely recognize how lucky I was to be a part of it tonight. Really is something I’ll remember forever.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 12:02am

Jordan Catalano said: "The show started with ALW and Cameron Mackintosh coming out to make a really nice speech and they brought out Chuck Schumer to talk for a few Minutes, as well. I expected Webber but not Cameron so that was a nice surprise.

Everyone got very loud (but very respectful) recognition when entering and most songs got a very extended applause at the end. The show ended about 10:55 which isn’t bad with everything - they really managed to keep it tight.

The only thing that went “wrong” was a technical glitch where you kept hearing this loud buzzing feedback in the speakers. It happened more than a few times for a while so I hope they can figure that out.

Y’know, with all the reopening I’ve been at with speeches and they all say some variation of “Broadway is back!” and the crowd goes wild. But this was different. When ALW said Phantom is back so Broadway is back - YES. And the whole night even leaving the theater and being handed Phantom cookies and walking out to Andrew Lloyd Freakin’ Webber shutting down 44th St. to DJ a block party where the celebration continued and everyone could be loud and dance and sing, yeah. Broadway IS back. This was the grand reopening we needed and I absolutely recognize how lucky I was to be a part of it tonight. Really is something I’ll remember forever."

How was Sara Esty as Meg Giry? I always like knowing about any new principal cast members.

And do you know who conducted tonight (Phantom has 5 alternating conductors, and Kristen Blodgette conducted yesterday's invited dress)?

I bet Ben and Meghan killed it as well. An audio recording is floating around from the dress and they both sound fantastic.

Updated On: 10/23/21 at 12:02 AM

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/23/21 at 12:03am

The chandelier is on the official twitter page, too.

https://twitter.com/phantomopera/status/1451730566710169601?s=21

Updated On: 10/23/21 at 12:03 AM