Chicago's
history with The Phantom of the Opera
dates back to May 1990 when the Second National Tour opened and played a 39-week
premiere engagement. That production
went on to tour the United States
through October 1998 including return engagements to Chicago in December 1993 (29 weeks) and May
1998 (17 weeks). Most recently, the
Third National Tour played a six-week engagement in March and April 2004.
With worldwide box office sales of over $3 billion, The Phantom of the Opera is the most
successful entertainment venture of the twentieth century, surpassing such
blockbuster films as Titanic, E.T., and Lord of the Rings. The winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards, including
Best Musical, The Phantom of the Opera
has been seen by over 80 million people in 119 cities in 24 countries. Worldwide, The Phantom of the Opera consistently plays to larger audiences and
in longer engagements than any other musical in history. On January 9, 2006, The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in
Broadway history surpassing Cats'
record-holding run of 7,485 performances.
The show then celebrated its nineteenth anniversary on Broadway January
26, 2007.
"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," explain press notes.
The Phantom of the
Opera will return to Chicago
for a limited holiday engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph St.)
from Wednesday, October 31, 2007 through Saturday, January 5, 2008. The performance schedule is as follows:
October 31 - November 4: Wednesday 7:30PM, Thursday 2PM
& 7:30PM, Friday 8PM, Saturday 2PM & 8Pm, Sunday 2PM & 7:30PM.
November 6 - January 5: Tuesday 7:30PM, Wednesday 2PM &
7:30PM, Thursday 7:30PM, Friday 8PM, Saturday 2PM & 8PM, Sunday 2PM.
Exceptions: Additional performances on Friday, November 22
at 2PM, Sunday, December 30 at 7:30PM, Monday, December 31 at 7:30PM, Friday,
January 4 at 2PM. No performances on
Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving), Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) or
Tuesday, January 1 (New Year's Day).
Tickets for The
Phantom of the Opera range in price from $28 to $85 and are available at
all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (151 W. Randolph St., 24 W. Randolph St.
and 18 W. Monroe St.), by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 902-1400, online at www.ticketmaster.com, and at all
Ticketmaster ticket centers (including Carson Pirie Scott stores, Hot Tix,
select Coconuts and fye stores). Groups
of 20 or more may receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.
For more information, log onto www.broadwayinchicago.com or visit
the official The Phantom of the Opera
website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com.
Photos: John Cudia as The Phantom; John Cudia; Sara Jean Ford; Greg Mills
