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• Licensing Phantom

Through the Years

• Original Cast
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Everything you need to know about 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway

Here's your ultimate guide to The Phantom of the Opera , the longest-running show on Broadway.

He's here, the phantom of the opera...and he's been haunting Broadway since 1988. The Phantom of the Opera , by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe, is the longest-running Broadway show of all time. This musical has appealed to theatregoers for over three decades, but after a record-breaking run that will go down in history, the music of the night will soon play for the last time when the show closes in February 2023.

The Phantom of the Opera is part romance, part Gothic melodrama, and part spectacle. It is about a composing genius, the Phantom, who hides from the world in an opera house. He is obsessed with an ingenue opera singer named Christine, who is both drawn to and frightened of him.

The plot seems simple, but where Phantom stands out is the music and the visuals. With songs such as the haunting and bombastic title song, "The Phantom of the Opera," as well as the ballads "Music of the Night," "Think of Me," and "All I Ask of You," Lloyd Webber's music is sweeping, big, and romantic — just like the show. 

And the special effects are awe-inspiring — from the now-iconic image of the Phantom and Christine on a boat in a sea of fog, to the one-ton chandelier that flies up and over the audience's heads, to stage fire — Phantom is not just an emotional journey; it's also a feast for the eyes.

Find out more about The Phantom of the Opera below, with characters, running time, songs, and behind-the-scenes history of how the show was made. Then, get tickets to see this living piece of Broadway history before the show becomes a phantom of Broadway's past.

Get The Phantom of the Opera tickets now.

What is The Phantom of the Opera about?

The Phantom of the Opera is based on the 1910 French novel by Gaston Leroux of the same name. It features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and a book by Stilgoe and Webber. It is about an ingenue opera singer named Christine, who works at the Paris Opera House. She is haunted by a figure that she calls the Angel of Music.

This angel is actually a real man, who wears a white mask and who calls himself the Phantom of the Opera. He is also a music genius, haunting the opera house and terrorizing the people who work there. The Phantom is also in love with Christine and her voice, and he is determined to make her a star so that the world can finally hear his music (of the night). 

When Christine's childhood sweetheart Raoul comes back into her life, the Phantom becomes jealous and more terrible things start happening in the opera house. And yet, Christine continues to be drawn to the Phantom. Who should Christine choose? Raoul or the Phantom? That's a question that has haunted Phantom fans (or rather, phans) for over 30 years. 

Part mystery, part romance, The Phantom of the Opera is considered the best of the '80s megamusicals, where the budget, the story, and the music were big and bombastic. Considering that The Phantom of the Opera includes a giant chandelier which flies over the audience's heads and crashes onto the stage, this Broadway titan more than fits the bill when it comes to "mega." 

Where is The Phantom of the Opera playing?

The Phantom of the Opera opened in 1988 at the Majestic Theatre and has been playing there ever since. The Majestic is located at 247 West 44th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue. The Majestic opened in 1927. It was a favorite theatre of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, who premiered four of their musicals there, among them Carousel and South Pacific .

How long is The Phantom of the Opera ?

The Phantom of the Opera runs at 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission. This is a standard running time for a Broadway musical. It's recommended that you eat before the show. 

What days is The Phantom of the Opera playing?

The Phantom of the Opera plays seven performances a week at the Majestic Theatre. The show typically runs Monday to Sunday, with two performances on Thursdays and Saturdays. Phantom  does not perform on Tuesdays. For the complete weekly performance schedule and up-to-date show times, please visit the Phantom of the Opera page to learn more. 

When did The Phantom of the Opera premiere?

The Phantom of the Opera was actually inspired by a 1910 same-named horror novel and a real-life romance between a genius composer and an ingenue: Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the role of Christine for his wife at the time, Sarah Brightman, who was a rising star. Here's the history of the Phantom of the Opera musical.

• 1984: Webber marries Brightman. He then contacts his producing partner at Really Useful Group, Cameron Mackintosh, who produced Webber's hit musical Cats , about a romantic musical based on French author Gaston Leroux's book, The Phantom of the Opera . Brightman would play Christine. Webber then asked Jim Steinman to write the lyrics to Phantom (Steinman had helped Meat Loaf write the songs for his Bat Out of Hell album). Steinman declined. Richard Stilgoe then agreed to write lyrics for the musical. Charles Hart was brought on in 1985 later to rewrite some of Stilgoe's lyrics. Webber also brought in Harold Prince to direct.
• 1986: The Phantom of the Opera opens on the West End at Her Majesty's Theatre. The show was a hit. A cast album was soon released in 1987 and also topped the charts, going platinum four times in the U.S. Phantom is still running on the West End and is the third-longest-running show there.
• 1988: Phantom opens on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre. Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, and Steve Barton reprised their roles as the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul from the West End. 
• 1989: The first U.S. tour of Phantom begins. It would become the longest-running continuous tour in U.S. history, running until 2010. The first international production of Phantom also begins, in Canada at the Pantages Theatre in Toronto.
• 1990: The first Australian production of Phantom begins at the Princess Theatre. Phantom would run in Australia until 1998.
• 1993: The first U.K. tour of Phantom begins. It runs until 1996.
• 2006: Phantom opens a sit-down production in Las Vegas, called Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular , at the Venetian. This production of the musical is shortened to 90 minutes. It runs until 2012.
• 2012: A new production of Phantom , the first to not be a replica of the Harold Prince production, begins a UK and Ireland tour. This was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Phantom .
• 2019: The Phantom of the Opera embarks on a world tour, beginning in Manila. 
• 2021: Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Phantom reopens on the West End, but with some retooling to the show that is different from the original production that had played there since 1987. The number of musicians is decreased, some parts are restaged and choreographed, and parts of the set are redesigned.  Phantom  also reopens on Broadway.
• Other productions: Phantom has played to over 140 million people in 35 countries. Phantom has been performed in 15 languages, showing that the music of the night is truly universal.

Who wrote The Phantom of the Opera ?

The Phantom of the Opera is based on the 1910 French novel by Gaston Leroux of the same name. It features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and a book by Stilgoe and Webber. 

Webber, who has been knighted by the Queen of England as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, is the winner of six Tony Awards and seven Olivier Awards. He is also one of 16 people who have won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony. He runs the theatre company Really Useful Group, one of the biggest theatre producers in England. As a musical theatre composer, Webber has also written Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunset Boulevard , and Evita .

Richard Stilgoe has collaborated with Webber on three musicals: Phantom, Cats , and Starlight Express . He founded the Alchemy Foundation, from his royalties from the American productions of Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera . The Alchemy Foundation donates money to charitable causes. Stilgoe has been knighted by the Queen for his charity work. 

Charles Hart was still a student when he met Webber, and he was soon brought on to help write lyrics for Phantom . Hart also collaborated with Webber on Aspects of Love . His other musicals include Bend It Like Beckham , based on the film, and The Dreaming , based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream .

The Phantom of the Opera characters

It takes 130 cast, crew, and orchestra members to put each performance of The Phantom of the Opera together. Below are the major characters in the show and some of the notable musical theatre performers who have played them. 

• The Phantom: The composer who haunts the Paris Opera House. He lives in a subterranean lair under the opera house. He resents the world for rejecting him because of his disfigured face, and he is obsessed with Christine. Michael Crawford originated the role of the Phantom, but the other actors who have played that role include Colm Wilkinson, Ramin Karimloo, Hugh Panaro, and Norm Lewis. 
• Christine Daaé: A chorus girl who wants to become a prima donna. Christine is drawn to the Phantom for his music but is also afraid of him. She is in love with Raoul. Sarah Brightman originated the role of Christine, and the role has also been played by actresses including Sierra Boggess and Rebecca Luker. 
• Raoul: Christine's childhood sweetheart who reunites with her at the Opera House when he becomes a patron. He is in love with Christine and wants to rid the Opera House of the Phantom. Steve Barton originated the role of Raoul. Hugh Panaro, Ramin Karimloo, and John Barrowman have also played the role.
• Carlotta Guidicelli: The prima donna of the Opera House. She is angered at the incidents that keep occuring because of the Phantom but refuses to cede the limelight to Christine.
• Gilles André: One of the new owners of the Opera House. He is trying to keep Carlotta happy and things running, despite the Phantom causing mayhem. 
• Richard Firmin: One of the new owners of the Opera House. He is trying to keep things running smoothly, despite the Phantom.
• Madame Giry: The ballet mistress at the Opera House. She is a strict and foreboding presence, and the one who delivers messages between the Opera House owners and the Phantom.
• Meg Giry: Meg is Madame Giry's daughter. She is Christine's friend and a ballerina and chorus girl. 

The Phantom of the Opera  songs

The Phantom of the Opera is a sung-through musical, with very little dialogue. Some of the most famous songs include "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Masquerade," "The Point of No Return," and the title track, of course! Here are all the songs in the show. 

• " Hannibal  Rehearsal" - Carlotta, Piangi, Reyer, Lefevre, André, Firmin, Madame Giry, Meg, Buquet, Ensemble
• "Think of Me" - Christine, Raoul
• "Angel of Music" - The Phantom, Meg, Christine
• "Little Lotte" - Raoul, Christine
• "The Mirror/Angel of Music (Reprise)" - The Phantom, Christine, Raoul
• "The Phantom of the Opera"- Christine, The Phantom
• "The Music of the Night" - The Phantom
• "I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It - Christine, The Phantom
• "Magical Lasso" - Buquet, Madame Giry, Meg
• "Notes/Prima Donna" - André, Firmin, Raoul, Carlotta, Madame Giry, Meg, Piangi, The Phantom
• "Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh" - Carlotta, Piangi, The Phantom, Ensemble
• "Why Have You Brought Me Here/Raoul, I've Been There" - Raoul, Christine
• "All I Ask of You" - Raoul, Christine
• "All I Ask Of You (Reprise)" - The Phantom
• Entr'acte - Orchestra
• "Masquerade" - Andre, Firmin, Ensemble
• "Why So Silent" - The Phantom
• "Notes/Twisted Every Way" - André, Firmin, Carlotta, Piangi, Raoul, Christine, Madame Giry, The Phantom
• " Don Juan Triumphant  Rehearsal/Phantom of the Opera (Reprise)/Little Lotte (Reprise)" - Christine, Piangi, Reyer, Carlotta, Madame Giry, Ensemble
• "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" - Christine
• "Wandering Child/Bravo, Monsieur..." - The Phantom, Christine, Raoul
• " Don Juan Triumphant  " - Carlotta, Piangi, Christine, Ensemble
• "The Point of No Return" - The Phantom, Christine
• "Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer" - The Phantom, Madame Giry, Raoul, Ensemble
• "Finale" - Christine, The Phantom, Raoul, Ensemble

What awards has The Phantom of the Opera won?

It's rare for a show to be both critically acclaimed and popular with the masses. But Phantom is both, if its longevity is any indication. And the musical received a diverse array of awards for acting, design, composition, and leadership alike. Here are the major awards Phantom has won.  

• Olivier Awards: The West End production won four Olivier Awards of its five nominations: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (for Michael Crawford), Most Popular Show, and the Audience Award.
• Tony Awards: The Broadway production of Phantom won seven Tony Awards out of 10 nominations: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (for Crawford again), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (for Judy Kaye as Carlotta Guidicelli), Best Direction of a Musical, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Lighting Design.
• Drama Desk Awards:  The Phantom of the Opera  on Broadway also won seven Drama Desk Awards in 1988: Outstanding Actor in a Musical (for Crawford), Outstanding Director of a Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Lighting Design.

Major productions of The Phantom of the Opera

The major productions of Phantom have mostly been replicas of the original West End production directed by Harold Prince, aside from the 25th anniversary U.S. and U.K. tours. Below are the major productions of Phantom and behind-the-scenes facts about them.

• 1987 West End production: For the original production, it took five people four weeks to build the chandelier, which is made of 6,000 beads and weighs one ton. It flies over the audience's heads and crashes on the stage at the end of Act One. Plus, a number of song lyrics in this production are different from the productions that came after it; those differences can be heard on the different cast albums.
• 1988 Broadway production: The Broadway production of Phantom almost didn't happen. Prior to the show coming to Broadway, Actors' Equity Association, the union for stage actors in the U.S., told the Phantom team that they would have to recast Christine with an American actress (per union rules). Andrew Lloyd Webber threatened to pull the production if Sarah Brigthman could not be in the show. The union relented, and the show went on to make Broadway history. 
• Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular : This version of Phantom was edited down to just 90 minutes. The biggest change was that "The Point of No Return" was shortened, and the chandelier crash was staged after "The Point of No Return" rather than "All I Ask Of You." 
• The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall: To celebrate the musical's 25th anniversary, Phantom was staged at the Royal Albert Hall for a two-night performance in 2011. Laurence Connor directs, and original creative team member Gillian Lynne returns to choreograph and do the musical staging. The cast includes Ramin Karimloo as the Phantom and Sierra Boggess as Christine (the two would later star in the original production of the Phantom sequel,  Love Never Dies ). Original cast members Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman perform some songs post-show. The performance was released on DVD in 2012. Connor also stages the 2012 UK tour of Phantom , which is more pared down than the original Harold Prince production, though the costuming remains the same. 

Onscreen adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera

Talks about adapting Phantom for the screen had swirled since 1989 after Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to the show. Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were in talks to reprise their roles. But production stalled on the film because of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Brightman's divorce. The film languished in development for over a decade, until 2002, when Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group had purchased the film rights from Warner Bros. Here are some more facts about the Phantom of the Opera  film adaptation, which ultimately came out in 2004.

• The Phantom film starred Gerald Butler as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, and Minnie Driver as Carlotta. 
• Unlike the stage adaptation, the Phantom film had mostly negative reviews. Nonetheless, The Phantom of the Opera was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song.
• Butler was the only main cast member who did not have music experience. He had to take singing lessons!
• Webber wrote some new music for the film, including the song "Learn to Be Lonely," which was written with Charles Hart and sung by Driver. The song was nominated for an Oscar. Some of the new music that Webber wrote for the film was later reused in Love Never Dies , his stage musical sequel to Phantom.

Fun facts about  The Phantom of the Opera

From sequels to how the Broadway production almost didn't happen, there are enough facts and trivia about Phantom that would surprise even a longtime opera ghost. Here are some phun phacts about The  Phantom of the Opera . 

• The original Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera cost a record-at-the-time $8 million to produce, which would be $20 million today.
• There are 19 cast albums of The Phantom of the Opera available, including cast albums in non-English languages.
• The full white mask that has graced Phantom posters since 1987 isn't actually the mask that's worn in the show. The Phantom's mask in the show only covers one side of this face, from his right eye to his right cheek. But the mask that covers the entirety of the Phantom's face was actually tried out in a workshop production. That mask proved too difficult for the actor playing the Phantom, then Colm Wilkinson, to perform in, and he couldn't see well in it. So set and costume designer Maria Björnson designed the now-iconic half mask.
• Phantom fans (or "phans") have long debated whether Christine should choose the Phantom or Raoul. In 2010, Webber gave his opinion on the matter with his musical sequel to Phantom , Love Never Dies , which takes place 10 years after the ending of Phantom and reunites Christine with her angel of music in Coney Island. The musical was thoroughly panned on the West End, and despite getting a U.S. tour and productions worldwide, Love Never Dies has never been to Broadway. But Phantom phans can watch a filmed version of the Australian production, which was released on DVD in 2021.
• Princess Diana was such a fan of Phantom that for the seventh anniversary of her marriage to Prince Charles, she filmed a music video of herself on the Phantom set at Her Majesty's Theatre, singing "All I Ask Of You" dressed as Christine. The musical's choreographer, Gillian Lynne, even directed Diana in the video. Webber was there to oversee. 
• Michael Jackson saw Phantom in 1988 and loved it so much, he told Webber backstage after a show that he wanted to play the Phantom in a film version. Webber declined since Michael Crawford was also on board to play the Phantom in the film version. But the thought of the King of Pop playing the Angel of Music — talk about a thriller night!

How to get The Phantom of the Opera tickets

Don't miss this iconic Broadway staple in its final months. If you love romance and spectacle, give in to the power of the music of the night by seeing The Phantom of the Opera . Make sure to watch your head for the falling chandelier.

The Phantom of the Opera tickets are available now. Get tickets to The Phantom of the Opera on New York Theatre Guide today.

Originally published on Sep 29, 2022 13:02

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Prepare to be wowed by this larger-than-life production, featuring all-new pyrotechnics and special effects.

Phantom Of The Opera

Finished Jul 7, 2019

Pantages Theater Hollywood

Winner of 7 Tony Awards!

Phantom Of The Opera Phantom Of The Opera

Why see Phantom Of The Opera?

See broadway's longest running show, on tour.

In 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber opened his newest hit, the powerful and haunting Phantom of the Opera, an electronic rock musical based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 book of the same name. The sweeping supernatural romance has since gone on to capture the public's imagination and embed itself in popular culture. As Broadway's longest running show, this Eighties juggernaut is still breaking records and is estimated to have been seen by 140million people worldwide.

Join Phantom as it moves into a new era, with an updated production that is ready to thrill audiences across America when it hits your town!

The Paris Opera, 1881...

Hidden in the tunnels deep below the Paris Opera resides a deformed musical genius who stalks the halls and terrorizes the company from the rafters. With his half-covered by his famous white mask, his only happiness comes from tutoring the beautiful, orphaned chorus girl Christine Daae, with whom he has an enduring obsession. Unseen, he teaches the young ingenue to sing 'The Music of the Night.' As her 'Angel of Music', Christine blossoms and steps out of the chorus line onto center stage.

When Christine becomes engaged to another man, the Phantom is driven wild with jealousy and will stop at nothing to have her for himself, even resorting to murder. And so begins a tantalizing tale of forbidden love and supernatural adventure so exciting that over 130 million people worldwide have lost their hearts and minds to the drama.

Did you know?

To achieve the spooky atmosphere of the Phantom's underground lair, the crew use more than 500lbs of dry ice and 10 fog and smoke machines at every performance. Brrrrrr!

Key Information

Derrick Dee as The Phantom  Eva Tavares as Christine Daae  Emma Grimsley as Christine Daae (from August 7) Jordan Craig as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny Trista Moldovan as Carlotta Giudicelli David Benoit as Monsieur Firmin Rob Lindley as Monsieur Andre Susan Moiz as Madame Giry Phumzile Sojola as Ubaldo Piangi SarahGrace Mariani as Meg Giry

Book: Richard Stilgoe and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber Music: Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe Director: Laurence Connor Choreographer: Gillian Lynne

1988 TONY AWARDS Best Musical Director (Hal Prince) Sets (Maria Bjornson) Costumes (Maria Bjornson) Lighting (Andrew Bridge)

1988 DRAMA DESK AWARDS Best Direction (Hal Prince) Actor in a Musical (Michael Crawford) Best Music (Andrew Lloyd Webber) Best Orchestration (David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber) Best Scenery (Maria Bjornson) Best Costumes (Maria Bjornson) Best Lighting (Andrew Bridge)

1988 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS Best Musical Best Design (Maria Bjornson)

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The Phantom of the Opera Welcomes A New Christine

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'Phantom of the Opera' takes a final Broadway bow after 13,981 performances

Jeff Lunden

John Riddle as Raoul, Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, take a bow at the end of the final performance of the Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater in New York City on April 16, 2023. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

John Riddle as Raoul, Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom and Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, take a bow at the end of the final performance of the Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater in New York City on April 16, 2023.

On Sunday night, April 16, the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history. The Phantom of the Opera , Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit musical, is closing after more than 35 years.

The stats are absolutely staggering – since it opened on Broadway in January of 1988, Phantom has played almost 14,000 performances to audiences of over 20 million, grossing over $1.3 billion. An estimated 6,500 people have been employed by the production – including over 400 actors – and it takes a cast, orchestra and crew of 125 to put on the show. On Monday, it will all be over.

"I got the gig of a lifetime. There's no other way to describe it," says Richard Poole, who's been a member of the ensemble, playing small roles, for almost 25 years. "It's given me the ability to have security, to plan ahead," says Poole. "It gives me discipline and structure in my life, and it gives me a constant way to maintain my craft."

Steve Barton (from left), Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman during the curtain call at the end of the premiere performance of The Phantom of the Opera on Jan. 26, 1988 at New York's Majestic Theatre. Ed Bailey/AP hide caption

Musician Joyce Hammann has been at the show even longer than Poole: "I'm concertmaster at Phantom of the Opera , which is first violin. And holy moly, I've been there 33 and a half years." Hammann is one of several members of the orchestra to have a "Phantom baby" – her son, Jackson just turned 18. "This has been his home away from home," she says. "People [here] have watched him grow up. He had the pleasure of sitting backstage during Saturday matinees sometimes when I wasn't able to get a babysitter."

The Phantom of the Opera , for those who've never seen it, is the story of a disfigured genius who haunts the Paris Opera House, pining away for a young soprano, Christine, who's in love with a dashing count. People die, a chandelier crashes to the stage, but love kinda triumphs ... all set to a sweeping romantic score.

25 Years Strong, 'Phantom Of The Opera' Kills And Kills Again

"I was very keen to write something which was a high romance at the time, having done Evita and having done Cats and various things, which ... didn't let me ... go in that direction at all," Lloyd Webber recalled in 2013, for the show's 25 th anniversary on Broadway. When he read Gaston Leroux's novel, he found the vehicle and collaborated with Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart on the adaptation, directed by Hal Prince.

"I think the enduring appeal is because it's so romantic and because audiences escape into it," the late director said for the 25 th anniversary. "It has a world of its own. And whatever problems they have out on the street and in their daily lives, they come in here and it's like a little kid tripping on a fairy tale or something. Only this is a slightly dangerous one. But the point is, I think that they escape from reality for a couple of hours and in a romantic world."

Music Interviews

'phantom of the opera': 20 years in the pit.

"The Phantom being misunderstood, I think is a big symbol for a lot of people," says Ben Crawford, who now has the distinction of being the last Phantom to haunt the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. [Ed. Note: Laird Mackintosh played the Phantom at the final performance on Sunday, April 16, filling in for Crawford who was ill.] Like other Phantoms before him, he has a special relationship with the Phans who've visited the show over and over. Some even send him their own artwork. "They saw that I had dinosaurs in my room," he says, "because when I play with my kids on FaceTime, my son loves dinosaurs, so they 3D printed this velociraptor that's, like, in a tuxedo with a phantom mask. And it came to my dressing room in a box with, like, holes in it so it could breathe."

But even the longest running show in Broadway history has to close at some point. Producer Cameron Mackintosh says Phantom was losing money, even before the pandemic. So, last September, he and Andrew Lloyd Webber announced a final date. "The following week, we were profitable for the first time," Mackintosh said in a phone interview from London. "So, you know, it was the right decision to take at the right time. And, you know, I think people's memory now is back with people saying Phantom of the Opera is one of the great successes of all time, which is what one always prays when a great show finishes."

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

Not my job: we quiz t-pain on 'the phantom of the opera'.

So, Phantom is going out with a bang – it's been selling out again. Music supervisor and conductor David Caddick has been around since the very beginning – he was music director for a staged reading on Andrew Lloyd Webber's estate back in 1984. He's conducting the final performances on Broadway. "I simply don't know how I'll feel on the morning of the 17th of April," Caddick says. "At the moment, it's about maintaining what we have: keeping the show vibrant. I still give notes to the actors, to the orchestra. We will look to maintain every element of the production through to the very last note."

There are plans for some surprises at the final curtain call. Actor Richard Poole says the closing is bittersweet. " I was retiring anyway," he says. "So, I have a very enviable spot in my life in the fact that I had something to go to, which was nothing!" For the other 124 people employed by The Phantom of the Opera , it's time to find a new gig.

The Phantom of the Opera marquee is shown above on April 13, 2023, at the Majestic Theater in New York City. The final performance will be on Sunday, April 16. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

CAMERON MACKINTOSH AND THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP PRESENT

THE BEST WEST END SHOW OF ALL TIME * *January 2020 survey published on The Independent website

The Phantom Awaits at His Majesty’s Theatre

Phantom London 2023 | The Phantom of the Opera

Experience the thrill of the West End’s most haunting love story, starring  Jon Robyns  as The Phantom,  Lily Kerhoas  as Christine Daaé and  Joe Griffiths-Brown  as Raoul.

The Phantom of the Opera is widely considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular productions in history, playing to over 160 million people in 46 countries and 193 cities in 21 languages. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s romantic, haunting and soaring score includes  Music of the Night ,  All I Ask of You ,  Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again ,  Masquerade  and the iconic title song. 

'SPECTACLE ABOUNDS. THE SHOW HAS ONLY GROWN IN ITS ARTISTIC POWER'

'THIS WEST END SPECTACULAR MORE THAN DESERVES ITS CLASSIC STATUS'

'THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT IS BACK'

'SCARILY GOOD - THIS IS THE WEST END AT ITS CROWD-PLEASING BEST'

'THIS NEW PRODUCTION, WITH ADDED GREATNESS, IS WORTHY OF ITS PLACE IN THEATRE HISTORY'

'THE STAGING HAS NEVER LOOKED MORE SPECTACULAR'

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Broadway in Hawaii

The Phantom of the Opera

Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will come to Honolulu as part of its North American Tour. Hailed by critics as “bigger and better than ever before,” this will be the first time any production of PHANTOM will have played Hawaii in almost 25 years. This production boasts many exciting special effects including the show’s legendary chandelier, new scenic and lighting designs, new staging and choreography. The beloved story and thrilling score will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this PHANTOM one of the largest productions now on tour.

The on sale date for single tickets is December 31 2018. To purchase tickets now order a group of 10+ .

June 30, 2024

July 1, 2024

Chicago Tickets

Celebrating 27 years on Broadway! The Tony-winning revival of Kander and Ebb’s musical will razzle dazzle you.

Robyn Hurder will star as Velma Kelly through September 15, 2024. Jinkx Monsoon will return as Matron "Mama" Morton from June 27 through July 12, 2024. Ariana Madix will return as Roxie Hart on August 1, 2024.

Chicago Show Times

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About Chicago on Broadway

Video & photos.

Set in the legendary city during the roaring “jazz hot” 20s, Chicago tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail. Nightclub star Velma’s serving time for killing her husband and sister after finding the two in bed together. Driven chorus girl Roxie’s been tossed in the joint for bumping off the lover she’s been cheating on her husband with. Not one to rest on her laurels, Velma enlists the help of prison matron Mama Morton and slickster lawyer Billy Flynn, who turn Velma’s incarceration into a murder-of-the-week media frenzy, thus preparing the world for a splashy showbiz comeback. But Roxie’s got some of her own tricks up her sleeve…

Know Before You Go

Devilish and delightful, Chicago is an indisputable Broadway landmark that utilizes minimal scenery and simple costumes (we’re talking some seriously basic black) to deliver one big musical bang after another. With one great showstopper after the next, John Kander and Fred Ebb’s now-classic score keeps the story moving at a gunshot pace. The scantily-clad dancers tip their bowler hats in tribute to original choreography Bob Fosse, whose moves are still as steamy and sexy today as they were when Chicago first appeared in 1975. For a show that stands chin-deep in dirty deeds, it feels like one helluva good time.

"Chicago still glitters hypnotically! It remains the best adult entertainment in town and still bubbles with the joy of performing!" The New York Times Ben Brantley

"Chicago is as crazy-fun as ever!" WCBS-TV Jess Cagle

"The show seems to have discovered the fountain of youth. As entertaining as ever. Brash, buoyant and utterly irresistible!" The Associated Press Michael Kuchwara

"Chicago is a triumph! It doesn't just give us the old razzle-dazzle; it glows." Time Magazine Richard Zoglin

"As much tribute as revival, the spirit of Fosse's genius never leaves the stage, and Chicago, under Walter Bobbie's sharp direction, will dazzle newcomers to the trademark Fosse dance style and provide a thrilling reminder to those who've seen it before just how smart, sexy and exciting this brand of choreography was, or rather, is." Variety Greg Evans

Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago  is 2 hours and 30 minutes long, including one intermission.

Due to some adult themes including language and violence, Chicago may be inappropriate for children under the age of 12. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater.

The protocol used to be that you would get dressed up to go to the theatre. That is not a requirement, but we always feel it adds to the excitement of the experience. There is no official dress code inside the theatre. Also, keep in mind the Ambassador theatre is air-conditioned, so it's nice and cool in the summer and comfortable in the winter.

There are concession stands located on each level of the Ambassador theatre that sell water, soda, alcoholic beverages and snacks. You can even pre-order your intermission drinks before the show starts. However, only bottled water is allowed at your seat.

Yes! There are merchandise kiosks inside the theatre where you can buy Chicago  shirts, the cast recording and many other fun items.

Stairs are located on both the left and right sides of the Ambassador theatre. There are approximately 26 steps to these additional restrooms. You can access both the men’s and women’s bathrooms by walking up either side’s staircase. To get to mezzanine seats, there are approx. 34 steps from the entrance of the theatre.

Cast & Creative

Bianca Marroquín started her artistic career in Mexico City in productions of Disney’s  Beauty and the Beast ,  Rent ,  Phantom of the Opera ,  Vagina Monologues  and  Chicago . In 2002, Bianca made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart and later kicked off  Chicago ’s third national tour, winning a Helen Hayes Award. Other Broadway credits: Daniela in  In the Heights ; Carmen in  The Pajama Game . Her regional work includes  And the World Goes Round  at Barrington Stage Company (woman #3) and  Bye Bye Birdie  at North Shore Music Theatre (Rose Alvarez, IRNE Award for Best Actress in a musical). Other credits include Maria Rainer in  The Sound of Music  (Mexico City), Anita in  West Side Story  (Carnegie Hall) and Mary in Disney’s  Mary Poppins  (Mexico City). TV: Chita Rivera in FX’s Fosse/Verdon . Film:  Half Brothers . You can catch her in Apple TV’s series, Acapulco . 

Robyn Hurder has been seen on Broadway in  Moulin Rouge! The Musical  (Nini, Tony Award nomination),  Nice Work If You Can Get It Grease  (Marty),  Chicago  (Mona, Roxie understudy),  The Wedding Singer  (Holly understudy),  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  (Violet). New York City Center’s Encores!:  A Chorus Line  (Cassie),  The New Yorkers  (Lola McGee),  Paint Your Wagon  (Cherry Jourdell). National Tours:  A Chorus Line  (Cassie),  Spamalot, Starlight Express  (Pearl). Regional: 5th Avenue Theatre:  Kiss Me, Kate  (Lois Lane, Gregory Award nominee); Drury Lane:  Crazy For You  (Polly Baker); Shakespeare Theatre Company:  Kiss Me, Kate  (Lois Lane, Helen Hayes Award recipient and Emery Battis Award for Excellence in Acting recipient). Film and television: Fosse/Verdon  (FX).

Max von Essen made his Broadway debut in Les Miserables , playing roles including Marius and Enjolras. His other Broadway credits include Anastasia , An American in Paris ,  Jesus Christ Superstar , Dance of the Vampires and the 2012 revival of Evita , as Magaldi. Von Essen starred in off-Broadway's Hello Again and Death Takes a Holiday , plus The Baker’s Wife at Paper Mill Playhouse and in national tours of Xanadu and Chicago . He was recently seen on the national tour of Falsettos .

Red Concepción is ecstatic to be making his Broadway Debut!  Miss Saigon  (The Engineer; US National, UK and Ireland Tours). Before moving westward, Red’s body of work spanned over ten years in his home country, the Philippines:  Priscilla, Queen of the Desert  (Adam/Felicia; Manila and Singapore runs; Aliw Award Best actor and Gawad Buhay Outstanding Male Actor in a Musical winner)  Equus  (Alan Strang)  Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella  (Lionel)  The Normal Hear t (Tommy),  Annie  (Rooster)  Shakespeare in Hollywood  (Puck) and more.

Broadway:  Tina: The Tina Turner Musical  (Zelma),  Chicken and Biscuits  (Brianna),  Waitress  (Becky),  Chicago  (Mama Morton),  A Night with Janis Joplin  (Aretha, Joplinaire),  The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess  (Mariah),  The Color Purple  (Sofia). Selected TV/Film Credits: Harlem  (Rebecca), FBI  (Mrs. Adamu), New Amsterdam  (Esther), The Good Fight . You can catch her in the historical thriller Alice  (Ruth), the Disney+ movie Better Nate Than Never  (Principal) and Fall 2022 on Netflix’s Partner Track . Follow Insta @ Natashayvettewillliams . Proud Black Theatre United and Actor’s Equity Member.

Broadway audiences know Reinking as a protege of legendary choreographer Bob Fosse and as the Tony-winning choreographer of the 1996 revival of Chicago .

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Aurora Shares New Album 'What Happened To The Heart?'

Following a run of festival performances this summer, AURORA will embark on a fall headline tour What Happened To The Earth? Part 1.

Norwegian alt-pop artist AURORA’s much anticipated fourth studio album What Happened To The Heart? is out now via Glassnote/Decca/Petroleum Records. 

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AURORA details of the new single, “Starvation touches on the very heart of the album. The root of the problem the world is in. Our souls are starving, and therefore I think it’s hard for people to truly connect with the world. Our food makes us sick. The news makes us worried, but passive. Our work makes us uninspired by life. We bully strangers on the internet. And we connect to other humans mostly through that very same medium. We can see people getting killed on our phones while we go on about our day. Something is seriously wrong.”

Leading up to the release, she has shared songs “ Your Blood ,” “ The Conflict of the Mind ” and “ Some Type of Skin ” from the LP, the latter of which was called “a simultaneously euphoric and melancholic earworm” by DIY, while Clashpraised “it dazzles with its folkloric light.” The new music continues to receive attention from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and many more. 

Following a run of festival performances this summer, AURORA will embark on a fall headline tour What Happened To The Earth? Part 1 in support of the new music across the U.K. and Europe consisting of eleven dates, featuring sold-out shows in London, Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. 

In addition to her U.K./Europe tour, AURORA will head to North America for the What Happened To The Earth? Part 2 tour with stops in nine cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York and more. Tickets and more information can be found  here , see below for a complete list of dates.

What Happened To The Heart? finds AURORA working alongside various new collaborators—including Ane Brun, Matias Tellez (girl in red, Maisie Peters), Tom Rowlands (Chemical Brothers), Chris Greatti (Yungblud, Blink-182) and Dave Hamelin (Beyonce, King Princess, Zara Larsson) among others—each bringing their own unique styles and depth to the project. Additionally, long-time collaborator Magnus Skylstad, who has been with AURORA since her debut album All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend, returns to contribute to the album.

AURORA has described What Happened To The Heart? as her “most personal and cathartic album” to date, with each of the 16 tracks on this record tracing its inspiration back to a pivotal moment in April 2022 when the artist was first struck by the profound question, “What happened to the heart?” This query was ignited by her reading of the poignant letter We Are the Earth, a call to arms in the face of global warming. Delving into human anatomy books, AURORA sought to unravel the mystery of when and why Western culture lost touch with the deeper purpose of our most vital organ. Through her music, AURORA examines the loss of spiritual connection in modern society, underscoring the importance of vulnerability and advocating for reunifying the heart with politic and personal growth. 

AURORA’s previous album The Gods We Can Touch (2022) was named one of the U.K.’s Top 10 albums and launched a sold-out U.K. headline tour, over a million album sales and 2.6 billion streams. The following year she released a book under the same name detailing her very intimate creative process and inspirations behind her third studio album, selling over 14,000 copies.

AURORA—WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HEART? TRACK LIST

1. Echo of My Shadow

2. To Be Alright

3. Your Blood

4. The Conflict of the Mind

5. Some Type of Skin

6. The Essence

7. Earthly Delights

8. The Dark Dresses Lightly

9. A Soul with No King 10. Dreams 11. My Name 12. Do You Feel 13. Starvation 14. The Blade 15. My Body is Not Mine 16. Invisible Wounds

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EARTH? PART 1 + 2 TOUR DATES

June 21—Tbilisi Open Air—Tbilisi, Georgia

June 26—National Stadium—Dublin, Ireland

June 26-30—Glastonbury Festival—Pilton, UK

July 5—Roskilde Festival—Roskilde, Denmark

July 6—Down The Rabbit Hole—Ewijk, Netherlands

July 10—Slottsfjell Festival—Tønsberg, Norway

July 12—NOS Alive—Lisbon, Portugal

July 13—Cruilla Festival—Barcelona, Spain

July 18—Ravnedalen—Kristiansand, Norway

July 19—Malakoff Festival—Nordfjordeid, Norway

July 24—Paleo Festival—Nyon, Switzerland

August 7-12—Sziget—Budapest, Hungary

August 17—Summer Sonic—Tokyo, Japan

August 18—Summer Sonic—Osaka, Japan

August 23—LaLaLa Festival—Jakarta, Indonesia

August 25—Summer Sonic—Bangkok, Thailand

August 31—Zurich Open Air—Zurich, Switzerland

September 18—Alcatraz—Milan, Italy

September 20—Gasometer—Vienna, Austria

September 21—Sportovní hala Fortuna—Prague, Czechia

September 23—Tauron Arena—Krakow, Poland

September 24—COS Torwar—Warsaw, Poland

September 25—UFO—Berlin, Germany

September 27—Forest National—Brussels, Belgium

September 28—AFAS Live—Amsterdam, Netherlands

September 30—L’Olympia—Paris, France

October 2—Royal Albert Hall—London, UK

October 4—O2 Apollo—Manchester, UK

October 5—Usher Hall—Edinburgh, UK

October 29—Auditorio Citibanamex—Monterrey, MX

October 31—Auditorio Telmex—Guadalajara, MX

November 2—Palacio De Los Deportes—Mexico City, MX

November 6—Gran Carpa—Bogotá, Colombia

November 8—Costa 21—Lima, Peru

November 10—Movistar Arena—Santiago, Chile

November 13—Movistar Arena—Buenos Aires, Argentina

November 16—Espaço Unimed—São Paulo, Brazil

November 21—Shrine Auditorium—Los Angeles, CA

November 23—Bill Graham Civic Auditorium—San Francisco, CA

November 26—WAMU Theater—Seattle, WA

November 29—Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom—Chicago, IL

December 2—HISTORY—Toronto, ON

December 4—MGM Music Hall at Fenway—Boston, MA

December 5—Beacon Theatre—New York, NY

December 8—The Anthem—Washington, DC

December 9—The Fillmore—Philadelphia, PA

Roger Daltrey says live music is 'the only thing that hasn’t been stolen by the internet'

Roger Daltrey has some thoughts.

He doesn’t want to disclose much about his impending electric/acoustic summer solo tour because he doesn't want to ruin any potential surprises. "Remember the days when you would go to a show and be wowed because you didn’t know what was next? There’s something to be said about mystique,” he says.

While he reaffirms his comment to USA TODAY from 2023 that he doubts The Who would ever play the U.S. again, he also wishes, in a way, that “we could go backward. I’d love to show people where we started , with a lot of energy.” So, is that a possibility? “No,” he says with a laugh. “We’re too old. I’d have a go at it, but Pete (Townshend) would have quite a shock. In those days, what we lacked in technique, we made up for in volume, and we can’t do that anymore.”

How about the current version of The Who’s masterful rock opera “Tommy” now playing on Broadway . Has he seen it? “No.” Does he plan to? “No.” But Daltrey will never shirk from elaborating a position. “I’m just not interested. I prefer the original, the original, the original. The Who created the best rock opera ever written and it should remain there as far as I’m concerned.”

When he mentions that longtime guitarist in his solo band, Simon Townshend – younger brother of Who legend Pete – is “my soul partner on the road. He’s my replacement for Pete,” one wonders how Pete feels about this.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

“I don’t know. And I don’t care.”

More: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are equal parts ribbing and respect ahead of summer tour

Daltrey’s bracing honesty is both amusing and laudable. His comments could be construed as the crankiness of an 80-year-old, but his demeanor is that of a bloke in a pub having a pint and laughing as easily at himself as the world around him.

And really, his bluntness should be celebrated, because even if you disagree with his positions, he makes valid points.

As one of the most captivating frontmen in rock ‘n’ roll history, Daltrey has pushed his gritty roar of a voice behind timeless anthems – “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Who Are You” – and searing ballads such as “Behind Blue Eyes” and the whisper-to-a-bellow “Love, Reign O’er Me.”

His 11-date summer tour kicks off June 10 in Glenside, Pennsylvania, before making stops in northern Virginia, upstate New York, Boston and Detroit among other cities. He’ll be joined by the aforementioned Simon Townshend on guitar, Scott Devours on drums, Geraint Watkins on keyboards and accordion, John Hogg on bass, Doug Boyle on guitar, Jody Linscott on percussion, Katie Jacoby on violin, Steve Weston on harmonica and Billy Nicholls on mandolin.

It’s a large ensemble for a tour billed as semi-acoustic, but Daltrey quickly clarifies that attendees shouldn’t expect a quiet evening of unplugged classics.

“It’s just varied instrumentation. The one thing about the show, though, is no synthesizers, which I’m happy about,” he says. “I like the rawness of real instruments and in some ways (synths) can wind up doing too much.”

So “Baba O’Riley” will be minus its synth loop and “Won’t Get Fooled” also scrubbed to basics, which Daltrey is anticipating.

“It opens people’s minds to maybe hearing the song for the first time,” he says.

The show will also include songs pulled from his 10 solo albums, possibly some covers and a Q&A segment with the audience. Despite the uncertainty that comes with giving the mic to fans, Daltrey is undaunted about the questions he might field.

“I didn’t say I’m going to answer all of them,” he says with a chuckle. “A lot are so stupid you wouldn’t want to hear the answers, anyway. But it can be a lot of fun, or it can be disastrous if the questions aren’t any good.”

The openers on his June run of dates are a rotation of KT Tunstall, Dan Bern, Leslie Mendelson and Inhaler. Tunstall, of “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” fame , will join the bill on most shows and Daltrey says he chose her because “she’s a fabulous artist, really gutsy. That’s what it’s all about.”

Daltrey first met Tunstall in 2014, when she performed at his dearly held annual Teenage Cancer Trust concert. Since 2000, Daltrey has curated the all-star event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, raising more than $40 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust organization , which funds specialized nurses and hospital units in the U.K.’s National Health Service along with additional support for young people with cancer.

More: The Beatles' 'Love' closes July 6. Why Ringo Starr says 'it’s worth seeing' while you can

After this year’s installment in January – which featured a walloping lineup including longtime pal Robert Plant , Eddie Vedder and Pete Townshend – Daltrey announced he would step down as curator .

“I don’t feel at this age I can be responsible for the charity,” he says, noting that he will remain in an honorary position and if a concert curator isn’t available for the 2025 edition, he’ll happily assume his position one more time. But, he says, “I just feel I’ve got to hand it over to younger blood to carry it forward … but I’ll always be there for it.”

Daltrey’s involvement in the charity always pokes at his softer side. But he wouldn’t be Daltrey without offering one more worldly perspective.

“This whole tour,” he says, “I just want to make sure we give the audience a great time. It’s a tough old world at the moment and thank God live music is there and that it’s the only thing that hasn’t been stolen by the internet. I think all of the YouTube stuff is very unhelpful. I don’t think it enhances (getting) anyone’s bums in seats. I think people are much more likely to go if they don’t know what to expect,” he says. Then adds with another throaty laugh, “Let’s go watch them fail!”