Phantom of the Opera is a classic French tale of a love triangle between a young singer, her boyfriend, and a ghostly figure who appears mysteriously from beneath the Paris Opera House.
Phantom of the Opera on Broadway
November 29, 2022 ~ Phantom of the Opera extended its run to April 16, 2023.
September 17, 2022 ~ Associated Press reported that Phantom of the Opera will close in February 18, 2023 after its 35th Anniversary and 13,925 performances.
Phantom of the Opera reopens at the Majestic Theatre in Manhattan’s Theatre District on Friday, October 22, 2021. It is on sale through March 6, 2022. From $29 thephantomoftheopera.com 🇫🇷
The show opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in 1988. Since then Phantom has become the longest-running show in Broadway history. The original Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Phantom opened on London’s West End in 1986.
Gaston Leroux wrote the French novel “Le Fantôme de l’Opéra.” It was originally serialized in the French newspaper “Le Gaulois” from 1909-1910. That makes it a bit like a soap opera or telenovela of today. The full novel was published in 1910. A 1925 film starred Lon Chaney.
Phantom of the Opera Synopsis
Act I
Rumours swirl around the 1880s Paris Opera House about a ghost living at the opera who plays dark tricks. During a performance, Carlotta, the prima donna singer suddenly loses her voice and a chandelier falls.
When the singer refuses to continue, the ballet mistress Madame Giry suggests that a young woman, Christine, replace her. Christine makes a triumphant debut. She believes she was taught to sing by an “Angel of Music.” Backstage the opera’s patron, Raoul comes to see Christine who was a childhood friend. He invites her to dinner.
The jealous Phantom appears and leads Christine into his secret lair beneath the opera house. He puts Christine under his spell. Frightened, she faints. Upon awakening, Christine lifts the Phantom’s mask and sees his ugly face.
Upstairs Joseph the stage hand tells scary tales about the Phantom and his deadly “Punjab lasso” (rope noose). A note arrives from the Phantom insisting that Christine be the new star. The opera’s owners assure the enraged Carlotta that she will remain the star. But during her performance, her voice is reduced to a croak and the stage hand’s body falls hanging from a noose.
Christine and Raul escape to the roof where he swears his love for her. The Phantom is angered and a chandelier falls.
Act II
Months later the Phantom appears at a gala masquerade ball. He proclaims to the surprised guests that he has written an opera and Christine must star in it immediately. Raoul asks Madame Giry about the Phantom. She explains he is a brilliant musician and magician with a deformed face who disappeared.
Raoul plans to capture the Phantom at the opera’s premiere. Christine visits her father’s grave for guidance. The phantom appears and begins to put her under his spell. Raoul rescues Christine while the angry Phantom sets the cemetery on fire.
While singing a duet with the Opera’s principal tenor, Christine realizes she is actually singing with the Phantom. She unmasks him before the audience. When the tenor is found strangled backstage, the Phantom disappears with Christine. The Phantom catches Raoul with his lasso and tells Christine he will let Raoul live if she stays with him. Christine explains that people do not fear the Phantom’s face, but rather his soul. The Phantom releases the couple and vanishes.
