Photo Flash: High School PHANTOM Cast Visits Broadway Production

Starting September 1, 2010,  high schools and colleges across the United States and Canada have been allowed to license THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for performances in their schools.  PHANTOM is licensed for these amateur performances exclusively by R&H Theatricals, an Imagem Company. For more information, visit www.rnh.com. In the photos beow, the Broadway production of PHANTOM welcomed the leads from an upcoming NY state production (Coleman High School in Kingston, NY).

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful and longest continuously-running tour in U.S. history. The New York production, now in its record-breaking 23rd year, continues on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre with no end in sight. The musical has been represented on the road since the First National Tour began performances in Los Angeles in May 1989. Since that time, there have been three U.S. national touring productions. The First National Tour Christine Company played Los Angeles and San Francisco for a combined total run of almost 10 years, grossing $305,192,485 with 3,902 performances and 6.6 million patrons. The Second National Tour Raoul Company played major markets during an 8 and a half year run, grossing $393,608,819 with 3,364 performances and 7.5 million patrons. The Third National Tour Music Box Company is the only production still currently touring the U.S. and will have played 7,284 performances at the time of its closing, spanning almost 18 years on the road.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, the New York production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA celebrated its 22nd Anniversary earlier this year - the musical's latest in a long line of record-breaking milestones. Since its debut on January 26, 1988, PHANTOM has grossed over $780 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history, and has amassed an unprecedented 9,000 performances and counting.

Worldwide, over 65,000 performances of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA have been seen by 100 million people in 27 countries and 144 cities. Its international success - equally staggering - is represented by total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion. This colossal figure makes PHANTOM the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world's highest-grossing film Avatar at $2.7 billion and such other blockbusters as Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. There are currently seven productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest Hungary, Nagoya Japan, Seoul Korea, the U.S. National Tour and a revised production in Las Vegas at The Venetian. The Broadway production is the winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Based on the classic novel 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.

Photo Credit: Andrew Nelson