How Long Will POTO Run? — Page 2

sbflyfan said: "RE: Changing London or Broadway to the new tour staging, Really Useful Group is a co-producer of the those sit-down productions of "The Phantom of the Opera," so they'd have to be in agreement on that

I highly doubt they'd allow it to happen. It's one thing to experiment on the road, but I don't think they'd mess with the longest running and second-longest running productions in Broadway and London history.

Cameron Mackintosh owns/controls much more of "Les Miserables," which is why he was able to do what he's done to the London production."

I see this show literally every time I visit New York (which is typically 2-3 times per year), and it's always like visiting with an old and dear friend. Cameron Mackintosh will "curse the day" he ever manages to mess with this one.

PatrickDC said: "Lot666 said: "Cameron Mackintosh will curse the dayhe ever manages to mess with this one."

Oh my. You sound just like the Phantom, honestly.


"

Then my work here is done!

Phantom of the Opera was my introduction to musical theatre and the reason why I love the art form today. Is it the best show ever? No. But, if it can do to others what it did for me - then I say let it run forever.

Updated On: 1/21/20 at 03:45 PM

The fact that it is still running is quite a feat. I remember waiting in line at the box office the day tickets went on sale. I think I gave up after 2+ hours with the line not moving at all. I ended up working there about a week or so after the show officially opened. I saw bits and pieces of it, but I never saw the show in its entirety or from a seat until 2014 when Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess were in it.

PatrickDC said: "Is a stop clause common, or is Phantom a rare instance? I assume they can be negotiated after some time when a show looks to be a long-running hit. If that's so, I wonder if Wicked may have one with the Gershwin and Lion King at the Minskoff."

They are pretty standard. But Phantom was such a massive hit, plus the modifications needed for the show, the Shuberts were willing to exclude the clause. I believe Harry Potter is the only other show without a stop clause.

Phantom is a "brand" now, so much so it's the "safe" choice if you don't know what show to see because you aren't familiar with Broadway.

Wick3 said: "As for stunt casting, do you guys think POTO on Broadway would ever cast James Corden as the Phantom? I've seen a few clips of him stating he always wanted to perform as Phantom in the musical (not sure if this is a real dream of his or if he's just kidding.)"

I can't imagine that Andrew Lloyd Webber would ever allow such a thing, as it would turn the show into a parody of itself. That would surely be the end of it.

I guess we all know now how long POTO ran on Broadway. Dug this up but interesting to read what we all thought of POTO back in January 2020.

Jarethan said: "The Mousetrap has been playing in London for something like 68 years. (Note: it is in a much smaller theatre than the enormous Majestic). The Mousetrap is not very good, i.e.,, for those of you who have not seen it, it is really sub-par summer stock. When I first saw it in 1982 or 1983, it was already a for-real tourist attraction, and that was 37 -38 years ago.

IMO there is no question that Phantom is a for-real tourist attraction in NYC. It has been doing steady discounted business for probably the last 15 years or so, and always seems to have quieter periods followed by healthy ones. If it is true that there is no stop clause,then individual weekly grosses don't reallymatter, as long as there are enough strong weeks to make up for the weak ones, which Phantom has had those far. I am thinking that there will be at least a 40th anniversary celebration, probably a 50th, as long as tourism remains healthy.

The one that is even more amazing to me is Lion King. It is doing much better business than Phantom was doing at this point in its run. Beyond some dynamic pricing in slow periods, to the best of my knowledge it has never been on TKTS, I have never received a mailing offering discounted prices, etc. I suspect that it will be with us for at least 20 more years, unless some incredible cataclysm happens. If Phantom ever does close, Lion King may eventually catch up with its run. So, I guess that I expect both of them to outlast me (a healthy 69 year-old).

No one called 2023 or any year at all, but Jarethan came the closest, I suppose, by saying the show would stick around as long as tourism remains healthy. And then the pandemic happened and the critical source of revenue for Phantom of the Opera - international tourists - dried up for a while. That was what struck me when I saw it last in 2017 and when I ever walked past the Majestic, that it was a show that relied to a large extent on overseas visitors to New York City who associated the show with Broadway - and didn't really need to understand English to enjoy.

It ran in San Francisco for five years in the 1990s, which seem kind of unbelievable too.

Because Phantom never closed and was simply regarded as an institution, it never had much of a critical reassessment either. It was just always there - and is the only Broadway show I ever saw twice in New York City, albeit 26 years apart

And now, as Jarethan noted three years ago, it's The Lion King that seems invulnerable - even more of a powerhouse than Phantom at the same stage of its run.

Updated On: 4/17/23 at 01:46 AM