Phantom Still a Box Office Phenomenon

The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, continues to endure as a box-office phenomenon. The musical – now in its 18th year on Broadway at The Majestic Theatre, having given an astonishing 7,325 performances (as of 8/21/2005) – has played to 99.2% capacity audiences this summer and has consistently been among Broadway's highest-grossing shows.

In fact, the show's box-office is even more robust than one year ago. The cumulative gross for Summer 2005 so far is $9,568,637 (as of 8/21/2005), an increase of $2,057,634 from Summer 2004, up 27.4%. The cumulative gross for all of 2005 so far is $25,134,337 (as of 8/21/2005), an increase of $5,309,140 from 2004, up 26.8 %, and all without an increase in ticket prices.

On Broadway, since its debut in 1988, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over $583 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Its international success – equally staggering – is represented by a total worldwide box office gross of $3.2 billion, making 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 Titanic (at $1.2 billion) and such other blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars.

And on Monday, January 9, 2006, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will become the longest-running show in Broadway history, with no end in sight. On that date, it will play performance #7,486 and surpass the 7,485-performance run of the current record holder, Cats, also composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the two longest-running shows in Broadway history: PHANTOM and Cats. Cameron Mackintosh has produced all three: Les Misérables, PHANTOM and Cats.

In addition to the show's amazing box office success, the Broadway production continues to consistently earn rave reviews from returning critics:

In The New York Times (July 1, 2005), Jason Zinoman proclaimed, "PHANTOM still delivers the goods! Judging by sheer invention, emotional punch and onstage talent, the venerable blockbuster still beats out almost all of the whippersnappers currently on Broadway. Maria Bjornson's flamboyant gothic design and Harold Prince's fantastical staging still have the gleam of finely polished professionalism. The solid cast retains the freshness of opening night."

David Richardson on WOR Radio (July 26, 2005) raved, "PHANTOM is still wonderful and isn't showing its age one bit! The chandelier still falls on cue and the show still rises to the top of all the musicals ever to appear on Broadway. I hope I listen to the music of the night forever!"

And Howard Kissel of the Daily News (August 9, 2005) wrote, "I have never enjoyed PHANTOM more than I did this time!"

The New York production has been seen by almost 11 million people. Worldwide attendance is over 80 million.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988 with a then record advance of $18 million. The musical went on to sweep the 1988 Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA also won seven Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. The original London cast recording was the first in British musical history to enter the charts at number one. It has since gone both gold and platinum in Britain and the U.S. selling over 25 million copies worldwide.

Base 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.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA stars Hugh Panaro in the title role with Sandra Joseph as Christine and Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul. The musical also co-stars Jeff Keller (Firmin), George Lee Andrews (Andre), Anne Runolfsson (Carlotta), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry), Larry Wayne Morbitt (Piangi) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Rebecca Pitcher plays Christine.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has production design by the late Maria Bjornson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The performance schedule for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is Monday and Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m.