Photo Coverage: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Celebrates 10,000 Performances!

The longest-running show in Broadway history, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, offered its 10,000th performance yesterday at 2 PM as a special benefit for The Actors Fund.

Winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards including Best Musical, the show is based on the novel by Gaston Leroux. It tells the story of the hideously deformed Phantom who lurks beneath the stage of the Paris Opera, exercising a reign of terror over its occupants. The phantom falls in love with the young Soprano devoting himself to creating a new star for the Opera by nurturing her extraordinary talents and employing all the skills at his disposal.

Trista Moldovan stars as Christine Daaé, joined onstage by Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Kyle Barisich (Raoul), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Aaron Galigan-Stierle (Monsieur André), Kevin Ligon (Monsieur Firmin) and Christian Sêbek (Piangi). At certain performances, Marni Raab plays Christine.

Now in its 24th year, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is the first Broadway show to reach 10,000 performances, and yesterday's matinee marked the historic event. View photos of the celebration below!

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy