Is it possible???? 10,000???

[redmustang]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:28pm

Can The Phantom of the Opera run another 4 1/2 years to reach 10,000 performances?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:32pm

Easily.

[pab]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:33pm

There is no accounting for taste.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:36pm

I could see it. Isn't Phantom kinda like all the other tourist stops? Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Macy's, Central Park, etc.??

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:43pm

Probably. It still brings in +90% capacity easily.

[shiz_student94]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:46pm

To think, I've seen 18 different Broadway musicals 38 times, plus two off-Broadway shows, and I have never seen Phantom! My mom didn't care for it...so I have no interest in seeing it either, and would rather see so many other shows.

So I guess it isn't a tourist destination

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:50pm

^ Are you serious...

[winston89]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:52pm

Yes, Phantom is really a tourist show. Many of the people go there because they think that it is good ect because it has been running forever. I think that the people that go to the show a lot are people that don't know anything about theatre or taste. But, I do think that it will not close anytime soon. If it were a show that were to rely only on tickets bought from locals then it would close tomorrow ( which I wish it did.) I saw this show just for the sake of saying I saw it. My number on problem is that none of the actors can make the 20+ year old blocking work. I know that the phantom covers his ears when he hears Raul and Christine sing in the backround during the repries of All I Ask Of You. But, when I saw it it looked as if the actor was doing it just because he was supposed to and not for any other reason. Also, Phantom and Christine doubles I can understand but the thing that bothers me to know end is when they were trying to make it look like they were singing. It's okay. You don't have to. They could have just gone down to the lair an not look at the audience ect and not moving thier mouths. I do wish that this show would close soon. It is making me think of the perfect crime. Just because It was running since Jesus was a child don't mean it is any good.

[shiz_student94]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:54pm

Dead serious, I've never seen it. Although on our last trip a couple weeks ago we did think about it...and then we passed on the idea. I guess when you have been to the city a lot you don't do the 'touristy' things?

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:59pm

I didn't mean you personally. I meant tourist in general, that do not know that much about theater. I've been to the city many times as a tourist also and have never gone to see it.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:59pm

I could see it happening, now I don't hate the show as much as others do. I have seen in on tour and its coming to Chicago this year and my school is going. But I think it could do it. I think its an okay. I don't think that it is the best thing ever but it is keeping actors employed and that's good...right?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:03pm

i think the only reason most tourists haven't seen it yet (if they haven't), is because they stand all day in TKTS to get tickets to everything else.

[shiz_student94]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:04pm

Boy From Ohio- Ok, haha my bad.
A handful of students that are into theatre at my school (In Michigan, yuck) have seen Phantom...in Toronto. So a ton of people have seen it. Oh, and Rent. Those are the two that they all decide to see in Toronto or on tour.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:09pm

I've lived in NYC for going on two years now, and I still have yet to see Phantom. I'm going to get around to it 'someday,' but no rush.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:34pm

Yup. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA still fills each performance about 90 percent plus even after ALL these years. It has no problem running an additional 10 years with any decline in attendance.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:53pm

Winston, spell check much?

I haven't seen it, but it's coming to my area next year so maybe....

I think it should close down in New York, on tour, and in London even for a few months and have Hal Prince do some new blocking. I want to see it in Vegas and I tihkn these productions sohuld be like their Vegas cousin.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:58pm

Winston, I'm curious what Broadway show you think 'only relies on tickets bought by locals'? The majority of the audience in any theatre in the city on any given night isn't made up of 'locals'. You're incredibly naive if you think that.

Phantom is a very successful show that has been produced all over the world. It may not be your cup of tea but it's an entertaining evening of theatre that many people love.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:21pm

I would rather see small shows that won't be on Broadway for long. I haven't seen Phantom, Lion King etc. because II know they'll be on Broadway forever. I wish tourists would see other shows like Drowsy or XanadU, but maybe that's just me.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:30pm

Once Hasselhoff dons the mask, all bets are off.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:37pm

^LOL

[Sargar]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:49pm

Winston, I'm curious what Broadway show you think 'only relies on tickets bought by locals'? The majority of the audience in any theatre in the city on any given night isn't made up of 'locals'. You're incredibly naive if you think that.

i agree...think about "Company." That show's main audience was locals, (a lot of them students who kept going back) and that still didn't save it.

[redmustang]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 7:28pm

I've written before that I first saw POTO in Toronto in the early 90's when it was the "in" thing to see. Didn't enjoy it although I had the CD and loved the music. Saw it again about 10 years later in Cleveland. Same reaction. Then about 3 yrs ago, was visiting NYC, had a spot open to see something, was with a friend who had never seen it. Dare I try a third time? Got tickets, sat close and LOVED it. Unable to explain why. Except the singing was much better than I had remembered before and I sat closer to the stage. Also, I thought the audience had changed. The 3rd time in NY, I felt the audience was pulling for Raoul. The other 2 times, they were definitely wanting the Phantom to get the girl. Which I never understood. I guess most young guys wouldn't like an old-fashioned love story with a good guy and a bad guy. Are females keeping this thing going so long?? Will this record of performances ever be broken? The closest show behind POTO is Rent. Keep in mind, if Phantom closed tonight, Rent would have to keep running over 8 more years to break the record. I don't think that is possible. And, Phantom is showing no signs of slowing down.

[candydog2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 7:59pm

I agree about the whole "getting tourists to see smaller shows" thing. I live in Ireland, so, although I keep up with Broadway news, I am a tourist in New York. My mom's friends visited New York a few months ago and I was telling them about the lesser known shows that are brilliant pieces of theatre, but they'd never even heard of Wicked so what chance did I have of getting them to go and see Grey Gardens?

In the end they saw Chicago. That's just how it is. Tourists will always see shows they are familiar with and I don't blame them. If you're in New York for a limited amount of time on a one-off trip, wouldn't you rather spend that money you saved on something you know you'll enjoy rather than go to see something you've never heard of?

[pab]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 8:50pm

Tourists usually will have to go out of their way to see smaller shows. Most tour companies have these shows listed on their tour pages:

Shows, Concerts & Sports

Updated On: 8/24/07 at 08:50 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 9:01pm

I NEVER said that there are only shows that rely on ticket sales from locals. I said IF phantom relied on local ticket sales then it would would close tomorrow.