Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera Hits 8,500 Performances July 3 at the Majestic
By Kenneth Jones
03 Jul 2008
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The Phantom of the Opera's John Cudia and Jennifer Hope Willis.
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| photo by Joan Marcus | A Broadway milestone no one would have imagined a century ago happens July 3 when The Phantom of the Opera plays its 8,500th performance at the Majestic Theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, is already the longest-running show in Broadway history.
The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production continues at the Majestic, where the show is now in its 21st year. It became the longest-running show in Broadway history on Jan. 9, 2006, with performance No. 7,486.
To view Playbill.com's frequently updated list of Broadway long-runs, visit Click Here.
Since its debut on Jan. 26, 1988, The Phantom of the Opera has grossed $690 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Total New York attendance is at 12.5 million.
Its international success is represented by a total worldwide box-office gross of more than $5 billion, according to the producers.
There are currently eight productions of Phantom around the world, including its ongoing North American tour.
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 and rules the inhabitants above. He falls in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, "and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents."
The current Broadway cast includes John Cudia in the title role with Jennifer Hope Wills as Christine and Tim Martin Gleason as Raoul. The musical also co-stars George Lee Andrews (Monsieur Andre), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Patricia Phillips (Carlotta), Rebecca Judd (Madame Giry), Evan Harrington (Piangi) and Polly Baird (Meg Giry). At certain performances Elizabeth Loyacano plays Christine. Andrews has been with the production for its entire run. Howard McGillin, who at over 2,000 times has played the title role more than any other performer in the Broadway production, returns to the role on July 28.
Phantom 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 regular performance schedule is Monday and Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM and Tuesday evenings at 7 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM. For tickets call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200, visit www.telecharge.com or visit The Majestic Theatre box office (247 West 44th Street).
For more information visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.
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Jennifer Hope Willis and John Cudia in The Phantom of the Opera.
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| photo by Joan Marcus |
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