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

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."

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

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

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

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

Interesting!

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.