Is Ramin Returning To PHANTOM???? — Page 2

It'd be weird for it to be London given they've already announced who's taking over after Earl Carpenter does his stint (Jon Robyns). Unless sales really are that bad for the reduced version that they really need long-time fans back after putting them off with a substandard production, which seems to have been the reason for getting Carpenter.

One of the FOH staff at the Majestic suggested on the 35th anniversary night that the show could be extended again, but given Mackintosh's insistence that the last extension was the final one, it will look rather stupid for the producers to keeping doing that.

The Scorpion said: "Unless sales really are that bad for the reduced version that they really need long-time fans back after putting them off with a substandard production, which seems to have been the reason for getting Carpenter."

Can someone please explain the talking-point that sales for Phantom in London have been weak or lagging since reopening? I've been reading comments on this board for months now that the show is not doing well over there. Not being at all snarky here -- I jus don't have any insider knowledge into their box office reports and the West End doesn't publish their grosses. Can someone enlighten me on this?

Jordan Catalano said: "It would in no way surprise me for Cameron to be all “The world wants us to stay so we will a little longer!”"

I see the spin now, the world wanted phantom to stay open so we decided to give you a present as thank you for an amazing 35 years this past summer with our fan favorites returning to give the show a proper goodbye..

The Scorpion said: "It'd be weird for it to be London given they've already announced who's taking over after Earl Carpenter does his stint (Jon Robyns). Unless sales really are that bad for the reduced version that they really need long-time fans back after putting them off with a substandard production, which seems to have been the reason for getting Carpenter.

One of the FOH staff at the Majestic suggested on the 35th anniversary night that the show could be extended again, but given Mackintosh's insistence that the last extension was the final one, it will look rather stupid for the producers to keeping doing that."

Unless the fans are going in big groups and going a few times a week, they make no difference to the box office takings.

uncageg said: "My thought is that they will have a lot of past cast members on stage the final night and all of the phantoms will have masks. I think he may have chosen the Love Never Dies mask as a nod to the show because he originated the Phantom role in that show."

I thought of this, too, but if they bring out a bunch of past Phantoms is masks, no one will know who they are.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Is the current principal cast (Crawford, Emilie, John Riddle) currently scheduled through the final perf in April?"

They only have the Christine schedule posted through March 25th. Which seems either oddly specific or just lazy - would they make a change for the last three weeks?

However much I want this show to run forever and to extend and extend and extend...

I purchased a ticket to the final public performance on April 15th for quite a hefty price (some of those tickets were going for over $700 if memory serves) all because it was the final performance available for the public to buy tix for. If the show extends again, I'm nervous I won't be able to get reimbursed or transfer my ticket to a new date. Anyone have any insight here?

Cameron Mackintosh is quoted as saying "...The Shubert Organization has been able to arrange a final eight-week extension of the run at The Majestic Theatre" when the show was extended. They intentionally weren't selling tickets for the final performances when the initial closing date was in February as it seemed they knew the show would need to be extended. It's a little cruel to let fans purchase tickets to these shows in April under the pretense that they're the "final" shows (and paying hundreds more for these tickets than other performances further from the closing date).

I understand it's a smart money-move to extend even more, and if I hadn't purchased a ticket for April 15th already then I would be fully on-board for anther extension. I'm just currently nervous that I've planned an entire NY trip around an event that won't be happening (the April 16th closing).

All that being said, I would LOVE to see Ramin play Phantom. Here's hoping they stick with the timeline they currently have and throw Ramin in there at some point. Or, if the show extends again, let those of us who have purchased tickets for April transfer them considering the "final" extension was not the final extension.

Updated On: 2/7/23 at 11:00 PM

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Is the current principal cast (Crawford, Emilie, John Riddle) currently scheduled through the final perf in April?"

They only have the Christine schedule posted through March 25th. Which seems either oddly specific or just lazy - would they make a change for the last three weeks?"

Lin-Manuel Miranda returned to In the Heights during its final two weeks.

pmensky said:
"Extending it once is acceptable. If they extended it twice, they’d look like crooks wanting to exploit people’s attachment to the show for a buck."

I mean, that would be totally on brand for these producers who kept claiming London was not only remaining the Hal Prince original, but was also going to be "enhanced", "polished", "bigger and better", and "even more opulent"...only to serve up a downsizing.

And in that same article Emilie says:

I’m so excited that I am able to close this show playing Christine

That seems pretty definitive.

defenses said: "According to this article, it sounds like Ben and Emilie will be doing the final show. It would be weird to ask them about final curtain on April 16 if they weren’t set to perform."

In the same article, Ben Crawford said "I do know there will be some events on certain evenings for the final weekend that we will announce around the 35th anniversary, certain performances that they’ve decided to make a little special", and that hasn't happened either.

Lot666 said: "defenses said: "According to this article, it sounds like Ben and Emilie will be doing the final show. It would be weird to ask them about final curtain on April 16 if they weren’t set to perform."

In the same article, Ben Crawford said "I do know there will be some events on certain evenings for the final weekend that we will announce around the 35th anniversary, certain performances that they’ve decided to make a little special", and that hasn't happened either."

He mentioned special events or surprises during his 35th speech IIRC. They’re probably just taking longer to plan than expected. (Which really shouldn’t be the case since they’ve had a decent amount of time but events never go as planned.)