Report: The Phantom of the Opera May Be Readying an Off-Broadway Return

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 2:55pm

https://playbill.com/article/report-the-phantom-of-the-opera-may-be-readying-an-off-broadway-return?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1RzmQSb0HCnKyufD2TTQcman945lIvvrthK3DcB-RYPc9H7pjbBVG-_Jg_aem_g24Jtc_49YOvsUCV_tmy_A

"reports of a return for the Opera Ghost are mysterious at best. The Index's listing, which claims performances will begin March 15, 2025, does not share a theatre or any creative team members beyond the writers, along with Evan Bernardin Productions as general manager and Kate Lumpkin Casting handling casting. Official sources—including both companies listed as being involved with the alleged upcoming staging and Lloyd Webber's production company Really Useful Group—are keeping mum for now. Time will tell if this report turns out to be legitimate."

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 5:34pm

This seems wrong to me.  The longer it is off-Broadway, the longer the delay is for a next Broadway production.  I would imagine that much of the spectacle would be gone / diluted, and they are not going to have a lush orchestra.  Mark me skeptical.  It just doesn’t seem like the right strategic decision.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 5:39pm

It’s getting the Jellicle Ball treatment. Immersive reimagining.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 5:43pm

First venue that crossed my mind was Stage 42nd. I could see a scaled down production in there and ALW has a good relationship with the Shuberts. Just what crossed my mind.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 6:06pm

Jarethan said: "This seems wrong to me. The longer it is off-Broadway, the longer the delay is for a next Broadway production. I would imagine that much of the spectacle would be gone / diluted, and they are not going to have a lush orchestra. Mark me skeptical. It just doesn’t seem like the right strategic decision."


It’s a musical, not a religion.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 6:06pm

uncageg said: "First venue that crossed my mind was Stage 42nd. I could see a scaled down production in there and ALW has a good relationship with the Shuberts. Just what crossed my mind."

This is the only place I can see them doing the "scaled down/tour" version they've basically wanted to bring to broadway since Prince passed because Prince's standards were expensive (just look at the original Christine Masquarade costume vs what's in the West End now!). I've also heard they're working on an "immersive" (whatever that means now) production they may test in Chicago. I don't see how that would work since it takes place IN a theatre and opera guests would be seated and not "on a dance floor" or whatever. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 6:10pm

Would be cool if they gave Stage 42 the Harry Potter treatment and transformed the house into the Paris Opera house or something. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 6:47pm

What language do yall speak that you think Stage 42 is the answer. 

[MimiChika]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 7:01pm

The old “lee's art shop” on 57th is the venue for phantom of the opera, they bought the whole building. 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 7:21pm

Hilarious that Playbill’s writer is citing a paywalled source when the casting notice for this- which contained all this info and more- was posted on their own site just last month (and discussed on BWW here) 

Updated On: 7/19/24 at 07:21 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 7:59pm

MimiChika said: "The old “lee's art shop” on 57th is the venue for phantom of the opera, they boughtthe whole building."

Interesting! 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 8:33pm

Here’s an exclusive sneak peek:

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 8:45pm

The things that confuse me about this project (if indeed it’s the ALW Phantom) are that Cameron’s name is nowhere on it, and it’s not being cast by a leading casting office.

I’d have thought that Phantom’s return to NYC would be helmed by the usual suspects. 

Does anyone have friends who are being auditioned right now? Is it the ALW Phantom material they’re singing? Or some other version? 

[pmensky]

Posted: 7/19/24 at 8:54pm

I think this off-Broadway production kills any hope that this show will see a Broadway production for many years. If it is a success off-Broadway, there’s no reason for RUG to move it to Broadway or open a new Broadway production. If it’s a financial flop, that’s a pretty clear disincentive for putting a production on Broadway anytime soon. Factor in that ALW would be the one who would eventually push for a new Broadway production, and would he even be around when that time comes? I think POTO may not be seen on Broadway for many decades.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/20/24 at 12:59am

BorisTomashevsky said: "Does anyone have friends who are being auditioned right now? Is it the ALW Phantom material they’re singing? Or some other version?"

Someone mentioned in an earlier thread that longtime Phantom understudy Jeremy Stolle was involved in a workshop of it. From what I’ve read it is indeed the ALW version. The thinly veiled casting notice from a few weeks back confirms it I think.

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/20/24 at 5:02pm

pmensky said: "If [an off-Broadway production is] a financial flop, that’s a pretty clear disincentive for putting a production on Broadway anytime soon."

I don't really agree. If an off-Broadway production flops, it could very well be because the audience simply doesn't want to see this show done as a cheap knock-off of its former self, and that's not necessarily an indication that a Broadway-quality production would fail. 

 

Updated On: 7/20/24 at 05:02 PM

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/20/24 at 5:35pm

The mental gymnastics the Phans are going through to justify a non-existent Broadway revival, enough to compete in Paris next week. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/20/24 at 5:47pm

I don’t think the show will ever have a long run in NY ever again. Cameron tried with Les mis and both times they only ran a couple years.  He’s probably just letting people do the trendy immersive thing, and play around with the material before launching a North American tour of the cheap original production that’ll end with a few years on Broadway. 

[pmensky]

Posted: 7/20/24 at 9:05pm

Lot666 said: "pmensky said: "If [an off-Broadway production is] a financial flop, that’s a pretty clear disincentive for putting a production on Broadway anytime soon."

I don't really agree. If anoff-Broadway production flops, it could very well be because the audience simply doesn't want to see this show done as a cheap knock-off of its former self, and that's not necessarily an indication that a Broadway-quality production would fail.

"

No, you’re right. It wouldn’t necessarily fail, but it would fail if it happened too soon. While the hard-core fans would be thrilled to see it back on Broadway soon, most theater goers and critics would not give a warm welcome to a production that closed a few years ago then flopped in an off-Broadway revival. If ALW and RUG want to give the show some dignity, hey should let it have its off-Broadway run, and let it tour. But, they should shelve a Broadway revival for ten years, then start planning for a 50th anniversary production to open in 2038.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/20/24 at 9:33pm

I'd like for the next incarnation of Phantom to approach it as a horror story instead of a romance.  Make the phantom truly terrifying, lots of jump scares, and a production design that leans into a gothic nightmare aesthetic.  Just make the whole thing sinister and eerie from top to bottom.  And lots of blood.  

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/21/24 at 12:53am

I would argue that Bjornson did design the original with a gothic nightmare aesthetic.

One of her and Prince's biggest inspiration was a video of people with severe physical abnormalities discussing how they are still sexual beings with desires. 

Harold Prince directed each scene so there was a jump scare moment in every scene. Now that doesn't mean that the audience is going to let out a blood-curdling scream, but a haunted-house level shock? For sure. 

The entire show was sinster and eerie, such as the use of darkness to suggest the unknown. Something as small as the one ballerina who lingers too long onstage at the end of their rehearsal before the title song. She's alone in the dark; is someone going to grab her? will she disappear into the darkness? It's a creepy moment for sure. And then things like the Christine doll in the Phantom's lair? Super creepy. 

No there is no blood but I feel like that would make it campy. 

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 7/21/24 at 1:54am

the ballerina is there a half second longer than the others, how is that creepy? No one’s gonna touch her during the scene change, she ain’t Christine  

Phantom4ever said: 

The entire show was sinster and eerie, such as the use of darkness to suggest the unknown. Something as small as the one ballerina who lingers too long onstage at the end of their rehearsal before the title song. She's alone in the dark; is someone going to grab her? will she disappear into the darkness? It's a creepy moment for sure. And then things like the Christine doll in the Phantom's lair? Super creepy.

No there is no blood but I feel like that would make it campy."

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/21/24 at 2:03am

It's a lot longer than a half second. And the whole point is we don't know who or what is in the darkness. Besides that, the entire scene of ballerinas in tutus rehearsing in the dark shadows outside of the dressing room is inherently creepy as well. 

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 7/21/24 at 10:12pm

Phantom4ever said: "No there is no blood but I feel like that would make it campy."

Right, I guess I'm saying I'd like to say more of a campy horror take.  I take all your points (and I was quite scared when I first saw the show as a kid), but I'd say the general impression the show leaves is more of a gothic romance than a true horror show.  

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 12:20am

I get what you're saying Rentaholic. The first thing that comes to mind is the Vegas version and the horrible Conner tour that show Phantom actually killing Buquet rather than just dropping a body double.