The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince and produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Company, Inc., once again makes theater history when it becomes the first Broadway show ever to celebrate its 25th Anniversary tonight, January 26, 2013.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 with its 7,486th performance (surpassing the previous record-holder Cats, also by Andrew Lloyd Webber and also produced by Mackintosh). Incredibly, since breaking that record, PHANTOM has played both an additional 6½ years and 2,800 performances - which by itself would be a smash hit run for a Broadway musical.
Below, photographer Walter McBride looks back at some other special moments in Phantom's momentous run!
Photos by
Walter McBride
Times Square Billboard January 30, 200
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007
Phantom of the Opera Billboard in Times Square, New York City. August 27, 2004
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007
pictured: Marilyn Caskey
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007
pictured: Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: George Lee Andrews & David Cryer
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Jennifer Hope Wills
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Jennifer Hope Wills
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills & Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills & Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills & Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble 
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills & Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills & Michael Shawn Lewis
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Anne Runolfsson & Michael Shawn Lewis & Howard McGillin & Jennifer Hope Wills with Ensemble
Phantom of the Opera Billboard in Times Square, New York City. August 27, 2004
The Phantom Of The Opera (The Longest Running Show on Broadway) becomes the first Broadway Show in History to reach 8,000 performances. The Milestone was marked by a special on stage curtain call at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. April 4, 2007 pictured: Theatre Marquee
Photo Flash: First Look - Tomorrow's Season Finale of LAW & ORDER: SVU
VIDEOS: New Clips from Seth Rogen's THIS IS THE END Released
Rooney Mara is the Face for New Calvin Klein Scent
VIDEO: She & Him Release Music Video for 'I Could've Been Your Girl'
EA Announces Battlefield 4 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4
BWW Blog: Leah Edwards - Practice. Perform. Repeat
BWW Reviews: Blue Lapis Light's Encore Engagement of HEAVEN-EARTH-ONE is Heavenly
VIDEO: Must Watch - Mel Brooks AMERICAN MASTERS on PBS May 20!