Based on Gaston Leroux’s horror novel, The Phantom of the Opera tells the enticing story of a disfigured Phantom who haunts the depths of The Paris Opera House. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of the young soprano Christine, The Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. The Phantom's obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide. Audiences are in for a thrilling night of spectacle and romance, accompanied by Broadway’s most unforgettable score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, including "Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," and "Masquerade." Directed by the late Harold Prince and produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group, the musical opened on Broadway on January 26, 1988. It won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006.
Technically it is a piece of impeccably crafted musical theater, with theme, music and staging in perfect accord. They combine as a total statement that depends for its potency more on the sum of its parts than on the strength of any individual component.
It is a spectacular entertainment, visually the most impressive of the British musicals. Perhaps the most old-fashioned thing about it is it's a love story, something Broadway has not seen for quite a while. To say the score is Lloyd Webber's best is not saying a great deal. His music always has a synthetic, borrowed quality to it. As you listen you find yourself wondering where you've heard it before. In this case you've heard a lot of it in Puccini, in the work of other Broadway composers and even the Beatles. Nevertheless he seems to be borrowing from better sources, and he has much greater sophistication about putting it all together. There are some droll opera parodies, several beautiful songs, an impressive septet and a grand choral number, all richly orchestrated.
1988 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1990 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
1990 | Los Angeles |
Los Angeles Production Los Angeles |
1992 | US Tour |
2nd National Tour US Tour |
2006 | Las Vegas |
Las Vegas Production Las Vegas |
2021 | West End |
Original London Production West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor - Musical | Michael Crawford |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress - Musical | Sarah Brightman |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Gillian Lynne |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Maria Bjornson |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director - Musical | Harold Prince |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical | Judy Kaye |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design | Andrew Bridge |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Phantom of the Opera |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestration | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestration | David Cullen |
1988 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Set Design | Maria Bjornson |
1988 | New York Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Musical | Charles Hart |
1988 | New York Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Musical | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
1988 | New York Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Musical | Richard Stilgoe |
1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Actor - Musical | Michael Crawford |
1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Broadway Musical | 0 |
1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Costume Design | Maria Bjornson |
1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Set Design | Maria Bjornson |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Richard Stilgoe |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Gillian Lynne |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design | Maria Bjornson |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Harold Prince |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design | Andrew Bridge |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Cameron Mackintosh |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Richard Stilgoe |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Charles Hart |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Michael Crawford |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Judy Kaye |
1988 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design | Maria Bjornson |
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