Tickets to the record-breaking performance on January 9th will be given away to 100 of the Phantom of the Opera fans who can correctly answer five trivia questions about the show.
Since its Broadway debut on January 26, 1988, The Phantom of the Opera
has grossed nearly $600 million, making it the highest-grossing
show in Broadway history; total Broadway attendance is at approximately
11 million. In addition to the milestone anniversary on January 9th, The Phantom of the
Opera will also become the first Broadway production to reach its
eighteenth anniversary on January 26th, 2006. 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," according to press notes.
Howard McGillin,
who has played the title role on Broadway more than any other
performer, will play the Phantom for the record-breaking performance. Sandra Joseph, who has
played the role of Christine throughout the country including over 1,000 times on
Broadway, will co-star. Joining them are Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul, George Lee Andrews (who has been with the show
for the entire run) as Monsieur André, Tim Jerome as
Monsieur Firmin, Anne Runolfsson as
Carlotta, Marilyn Caskey as Madame
Giry, Larry
Wayne Morbitt as Piangi, Heather
McFadden as Meg. (Currently on
maternity leave, McFadden will return the first week in January.
Until then, the role of Meg is being played by Kara Klein, direct from
the national tour in her Broadway debut). At certain performances,
Rebecca Pitcher, most recently Christine with the current national
tour, plays the role of Christine.
The Phantom of the Opera features 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 Stilgoe and
Lloyd Webber. The musical has production design by
the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin
Levan, with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne.
Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Lloyd Webber. 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, starring London stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, opened on January 26, 1988. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.To answer questions for a chance to win tickets to the January 9th performance of The Phantom of the Opera, visit www.phantomgala.com.