Phantom Revival - What Happened?

[jackkelly2024]

Posted: 6/3/24 at 9:13pm

With the news of Gypsy taking the Majestic, I was wondering if anyone had heard any further industry rumors of the extensively teased and now suddenly radio silent Phantom lite transfer/revival. I had originally heard interest in the Belasco but it has been many months without an update. 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/3/24 at 10:43pm

It was made up in the minds of people who screamed that life ended the day Phantom closed. Obviously it didn’t. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/3/24 at 11:50pm

It can't be considered TONY eligable without being closed for three years so if it does come back its still going to be a minute. 

[Penna2]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 1:57am

Too soon.

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 5:16am

As one of Broadway’s larger houses, and in rather prime real estate, I’m curious to know how - in the current post-pandemic market - how commercially viable that theatre will be considering it’s been out of commission to new productions for nearly 40 years.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 7:56am

quizking101 said: "As one of Broadway’s larger houses, and in rather prime real estate, I’m curious to know how - in the current post-pandemic market - how commercially viable that theatre will be considering it’s been out of commission to new productions for nearly 40 years."

It has a lot of positives going for it:

-it's about the same capacity as the St. James but with larger orchestra section (more top-tier tickets) and no balcony

-the rear orchestra has stadium seating for great sight lines

-It just had a gorgeous full renovation

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 11:06am

It was imagined by a few posters on this board. Webber said it wouldn't be gone for long, then a few folks here decided that meant it was coming back immediately. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 11:41am

Coming back immediately? No.

Coming back to the Majestic? No.

Coming back period? Yes, and sooner than later.

This has been planned since before the pandemic. I posted a great deal about what the plan -- as I understood it -- was at the time, and I'm pretty clear on that still being the case.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 12:12pm

That's what I read too, albeit on other message boards and Phantom fan pages about how CamMack wanted to do exactly what he did to the West End Les Miz (replace the creative team and downsize but ultimately stay open) to Phantom. He succeeded in doing that in London but New York ended up getting a full closure with no downsizing to "save" the show as in London. 

And by the way, who screamed that life ended the day Phantom closed. We can't be upset--really upset--about a 35 year old show closing? We don't need your permission and we reject your obnoxious post. 

ANYWAY,

I don't think the original plan for downsizing these shows involved trying to get another Tony Award. When Phantom does come back, we should expect another clever ad campaign about the show barely changing and Cameron found a creative way to keep the show open while "freshening" and "updating" the show. Ugh.  

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 12:47pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "It can't be considered TONY eligable without being closed for three years so if it does come back its still going to be a minute."

This is interesting information, but what would make a revival Tony awards bait is the opposite of what Phantom fans watch to see. They want an experience as close to the original product as possible. 

A rethinking along of the lines of Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” (or what I'm assuming that's going to be), would likely move the needle more in a Tony race. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 2:55pm

I'd love for the smaller Phantom to go to Stage 42. I think that's such a great space that usually sits unused. It's almost 500 seats. They could trim some of the ensemble members, downsize a little. And just let it run forever.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 3:18pm

I am one of those people who was really, really sad about Phantom closing, but I don’t want it back on Broadway in a cheaper, reduced form. Let us remember it how it was. Macintosh should also let it go to regional theatres (Les Miz too - more of them anyway). He needs to retire and stop scheming to make more money. How much more does he need?

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 3:34pm

RippedMan said: "I'd love for the smaller Phantom to go to Stage 42. I think that's such a great space that usually sits unused. It's almost 500 seats. They could trim some of the ensemble members, downsize a little. And just let it run forever."

You're never going to get a satisfying Phantom by just trimming down the Prince production or even the Connor production until it can be profitable with only 500 seats. It's just too big.

What I would love to see, if ALW would give up his grasp on his star baby in the same way he has for Cats, Sunset, and Superstar as of late, is a realm director radically reimagining Phantom and specifically designing it for a much more intimate enviroment. That has to the potential to bo awesome. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 4:06pm

jkcohen626 said: "RippedMan said: "I'd love for the smaller Phantom to go to Stage 42. I think that's such a great space that usually sits unused. It's almost 500 seats. They could trim some of the ensemble members, downsize a little. And just let it run forever."

You're never going to get a satisfying Phantom by just trimming down the Prince production or even the Connor production until it can be profitable with only 500 seats. It's just too big.

What I would love to see, if ALW would give up his grasp on his star baby in the same way he has for Cats, Sunset, and Superstar as of late, is a realm director radically reimagining Phantom and specifically designing it for a much more intimate enviroment. That has to the potential to bo awesome."

That’s very true. I just think it would work well in that space since it’s all one level so everyone can see the chandelier crashing, etc. I just don’t think it needs to be on Broadway again. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 10:41pm

In what universe would the economics of that make sense????

The non-existent revival sprung from brain worms. That’s what happened.  

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 10:44pm

Phantom will 1000% be back. I was wondering though if it could it be possible they'd wait until 2026 or 2028 to coincide with the show's 40th London or Broadway subsequent anniversaries.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 10:48pm

Yes, we can all agree that the longest running show on Broadway will return at some point. But making up a non-existent revival at the Belasco and then running with it…

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 10:52pm

Never ran with the Belasco theory but I found it hilarious how practically every single theatre on Broadway was "rumored" to be home to the revival from the Broadhurst to the Imperial to the Jacobs.  I even remember a wild theory that Wicked was going to move to the Majestic and Phantom moving into the Gershwin.  People are funny sometimes.  Watch the Shuberts plug it into the Longacre.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 6/4/24 at 10:57pm

Exactly! Thank you for being a sane fan (you’ll never catch me using the “ph” version 😉 ) 

[JBM84]

Posted: 6/5/24 at 8:36am

Is there still rumors swirling on a Punchdrunk version in LA?

[Ensemble1716440075]

Posted: 6/5/24 at 9:48pm

Not even sure how Phantom makes sense on a smaller scale. Plus it ran nearly 40 years. Why not the Kopit/Yeston one?