Farewell Phantom

In this article, Hailie will cover the events that led to the end of the popular Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera.

Farewell Phantom:

A Tribute to The Phantom of the opera

By Hailie Zintzun

Of all the shows that have graced the stages of Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera is known as one of the most prominent in history. From its first performance in New York, which occurred on Jan. 26, 1988, The Phantom of the Opera has made itself known as one of the most spectacular and memorable Broadway musicals to ever exist. With such a grand reputation, it is certainly shocking to believe that, as of Apr.16, 2023, the show will no longer be in production. Those who have had the fortunate experience of witnessing this history-making show, as well as “phans” of the emotionally moving musical pieces found in the various cast recordings, have shown a shared love for all that is Phantom during the many years of its run on Broadway. With all the joy that Phantom and its cast and crew members have brought to people over several generations, it is only fitting that it is celebrated with a proper farewell.

The Phantom of the Opera has a rich history in several different avenues of entertainment. The source material stems from the book of the same name written by the late French author, Gaston Leroux. The story has been adapted into many forms over the years, from silent films to horror movies, plays to musicals, and eventually a movie adaptation based on the famous musical in question.

The first cast of the show to perform at the Majestic Theatre included Michael Crawford as the title role, with the other leads being Sarah Brightman as his “Christine” and Steve Barton as “Raoul.” According to Playbill, tickets were sold out for months before the show even reached its initial opening: “As early as November 1987, fans were camping out overnight in the sub-freezing cold, desperate to purchase the next block of tickets for performances.”

Reviewers and curious viewers alike praised the show from opening night onward, which led to various other successes for Phantom. After earning a Tony in the category of “Best Musical,” and going on its first tour in the United States, it was on Jan. 9, 2006 that The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show in Broadway history. This beat the previous record set by Cats, another musical which features Andrew Lloyd Webber as the composer.

Photo Credit: Broadway.Com

For the twenty-fifth anniversary of the show, a special performance featuring Ramin Karimloo as the “Phantom” and Sierra Boggess as “Christine” was held at the Royal Albert Hall and recorded for future fans to appreciate far in the future. The return of several original cast members is one of the reasons this particular showing stands apart and has made its own reputation in the Phantom legacy. Other achievements quickly followed, which included diversity in the main roles, the thirty-year anniversary and the return of the show after the events of the Broadway closing in 2020.

In an event that brought sorrow to the hearts of many fans, it was announced in Sept. of 2022 that The Phantom of the Opera would have its final Broadway performance on Feb. 18, 2023. Upon hearing the news that the longest-running show of thirty-five years on Broadway would be leaving with no definite return, a large number of people took it upon themselves to purchase tickets in order to witness the spectacle before it was too late. As Deadline states, “Phantom‘s box office revitalization began quickly after the original closing announcement, with weekly grosses consistently rising from less than $900,000 pre-announcement to sell-out business of nearly $1.8 million for the week ending Nov. 20.” This created a dramatic increase in box office for the show, which would lead some to believe it would be enough for Phantom to continue haunting the stage for years to come. While an eight-week extension did occur (making the final performance date April 16, 2023) the show would still have its ultimate finale, albeit a delayed one.

Photo Credit: People Magazine

The grand finale of Phantom was a special celebration that brought with it sentimental memories and bittersweet feelings. After almost 14,000 performances at the Majestic Theatre, the composer and creator of the show, Lloyd Webber, joined the last cast on stage and dedicated the final one to his late son, Nicholas. CBS News quotes Webber, saying, “The last few months I don’t think anybody, any of us thought the fact that it would go out with the bang it has.” Indeed, the last show featured some tender moments shared between some of the original cast, including Brightman, the first “Christine” and the last cast. Emilie Kouatchou, the last “Christine,” spoke to CBS2, echoing Webber’s sentiment that “It’s full circle, starting with a bang and we’re ending with a bang, too.”

The crowd on that melancholy evening was invitation-only, consisting of year-long fans of the show, former cast members, and the lucky few who won tickets in a lottery. The energy was vivacious, with less of the performance being about the show itself and more of the show being focused on the imprint it is leaving behind in Broadway history. The New York Times documented this event, recapping that “The final performance, which ran from 5:22 to 7:56 p.m., was interrupted repeatedly by applause, not only for the main actors, but also for the beloved props, including a monkey music box, and scenic elements such as a gondola being rowed through a candelabra-adored underground lake.” The fact that the audience was so excited to see these staples of the show gives truth to the reality that Phantom has made a great impact on the theater community.

The long-lasting and extensive work required to maintain such a large production over the thirty-five years of its run produced numerous positions and loyal employees for Phantom. In fact, it has been known to be one of the largest job creators in the theatrical history of the U.S. CNBC pointed out that, “During its run, Phantom created an estimated 6,500 jobs, including those of 400 actors, in New York City.” Many have been with the show since the beginning, and have stayed as a working member ever since. Ron Blakely has been working in the wardrobe department of Phantom since the first curtain call was held at the Majestic Theatre. Meanwhile, Juilliard graduate Jan Mullen has been contributing to one of the largest orchestras by playing the violin in the pit since day one. As she told CNBC, “This is as good as it gets, I’m so glad so many people have been able to enjoy it.” These “lifers” are one of the reasons why Phantom is so special to the Broadway community. It goes to show how much of an impact it has had on the lives of those involved with the show, and implies how it will continue to have an effect on society after it has left for good.

Every beginning must have an ending, but who is to say when that ending will occur? There have been some who claim that the return of The Phantom of the Opera to the stage is inevitable. Well-known theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh, when asked about the possible return of the show, was confident in his response to Variety. He stated, “All the great musicals do.” After all, with the impressive display of costume design, sets, and of course the famous music, it is very likely that demand for this kind of performance will regather in a few years.

In the meantime, there are several other shows that have and will take the stage following Phantom’s step back from the spotlight. Another Andrew Lloyd Webber creation, Bad Cinderella, came soon after his other creation’s closure. Unfortunately, the show received negative reception and closed on June 4, 2023 (just for months after its opening). However, there are other options available for one who wishes to satisfy a hunger for musical theater, which includes MJ, the Musical, which is off the life and works of Michael Jackson, & Juliet, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet from her perspective, and Back to the Future, a musical based off of the movie of the same name. Inflation and the lost revenue after the pandemic may have caused The Phantom of the Opera to be put on the back burner for now, but there is always hope for its return.

Photo Credit: IndieWire

More than a spectacle, The Phantom of the Opera is a large contributor to Broadway history in both achievements and the lives that it has touched while earning them. It is never an easy task to say goodbye to something you love, so let those who found a connection to this show not see this as a true farewell, but as a celebration of its memory until it can rise once again. Thank you, Phantom, for all you have given to your fans, your fantastic cast and crew, and the fellow members of your Broadway family. You will be forever remembered and severely missed.

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