'Phantom' On Broadway- ✰✮21 Today✮✰

The Broadway production of 'The Phantom Of The Opera' reached its coming of age today, 26th January 2009.
The production opened on 26th January 1988 and today will play it's 8732nd performance.

'Phantom' opened on Broadway just 18 months after its London premiere of 1986 and was the most expensive show ever staged at the time- $8M, still a lot even 21 years later.
So far it has taken just over $715M at the Majestic Theatre box office.
It has broken and held many records in its 21 years, one of those is that it took over 14 years of it playing on Broadway before it sold its first half price ticket at the TKTS booth!
It will be round a little while longer as its only a year since it had $750,000 invested in it with a new sound system.
Happy Birthday Phantom!

Updated On: 1/26/09 at 11:41 AM

...at least!
its great to know i was there for its first 3 months. At that time no one would have dared say 10 years, leave alone 21.

It was true 21 years ago yes, but I don't know if its changed now. I haven't seen it on Broadway since I was there with it for its first 3 months. There were endless problems with the safety people despite everyone explaining that it was no different to what had been presented in London for 18 months already. They didn't listen and over time there were always people saying that the chandelier fell a lot slower than its London sister did.
Forward to 2009, is this still the case if anyone has seen both in the last few years?

Updated On: 1/26/09 at 02:18 PM

I saw it on Bway in previews, and I thought the chandelier rather floated down, like a genteel flying saucer.

I saw it again perhaps three years ago and I didn't really notice, but that was largely a function of where I was sitting. I couldn't really see it till it was quite near the stage.

I've always loved this show (not a popular opinion among certain folks). So much "bang for your buck," as the saying goes.

I know exactly what you mean about the widths of the pros arch and auditorium in New York. the Majestic is more like a movie theatre than an opera house and that is the reason why it may look faster in the confines of the much smaller, Her Majesty's.


Her Majestys, London.


Majestic Theatre, New york.

I haven't seen the show in New York, but the Chandelier in London was laughably slow as of August - not scary at all.