Report: The Phantom of the Opera May Be Readying an Off-Broadway Return- Page 11

[mtchairs]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 2:51pm

From the press release…

Masquerade blurs the lines of reality, bringing audiences inside and closer than ever before to the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera – a mystery never fully explained. From the highest rooftop to the subterranean lair deep below the Opera Populaire, guests will be invited to experience the music of the night more intimately than ever before. And when the iconic chandelier rises again above New York City, it will provide more than “a little illumination,” with a dazzling display of over 30,000 crystals provided by Preciosa, the Official Crystal Partner of Masquerade.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 3:08pm

If this is happening in different spaces within the building, I’m wondering how they handle the music? Like will they have a live orchestra, or will it be a clicktrack/canned/prerecorded music situation? (Which I’m sure the union will be totally cool about…….)

Updated On: 6/27/25 at 03:08 PM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 4:28pm

Crystal Partner is a good drag name.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 4:57pm

I hope they have air conditioner lol 

[fray3]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 5:14pm

This is all really great and stuff, but does the website need to be bright red? I don't know if my eyes will ever recover from that experience.

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 5:19pm

fray3 said: "This is all really great and stuff, but does the website need to be bright red? I don't know if my eyes will ever recover from that experience."

Congrats! You just completed the first step of the immersive Phantom experience. You'll receive your next clue at the optometrist.

- O.G.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 6:16pm

FolliesCabaret said: "fray3 said: "This is all really great and stuff, but does the website need to be bright red? I don't know if my eyes will ever recover from that experience."

Congrats! You just completed the first step of the immersive Phantom experience. You'll receive your next clue at the optometrist.

- O.G."

Between this and the Chess branding, that sounds about right actually. 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 1:26pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "If this is happening in different spaces within the building, I’m wondering how they handle the music? Like will they have a live orchestra, or will it be a clicktrack/canned/prerecorded music situation? (Which I’m sure the union will be totally cool about…….)"

I doubt this is a union show. Think more like Sleep No More, which def used prerecorded music.

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 6/28/25 at 11:15pm

FANtomFollies said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "If this is happening in different spaces within the building, I’m wondering how they handle the music? Like will they have a live orchestra, or will it be a clicktrack/canned/prerecorded music situation? (Which I’m sure the union will be totally cool about…….)"

I doubt this isa union show. Think more like Sleep No More, which def used prerecorded music."

You would doubt incorrectly.   This is absolutely an AEA production.   And the cast list of well known AEA actors would attest to that as well. 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 8:39am

jakethesnake said: "FANtomFollies said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "If this is happening in different spaces within the building, I’m wondering how they handle the music? Like will they have a live orchestra, or will it be a clicktrack/canned/prerecorded music situation? (Which I’m sure the union will be totally cool about…….)"

I doubt this isa union show. Think more like Sleep No More, which def used prerecorded music."

You would doubt incorrectly. This is absolutely an AEA production. And the cast list of well known AEA actors would attest to that as well."

That doesn't mean it's a union show. AEA actors do off-broadway all the time but those shows are not under a union contract and therefore don't have to follow rules about live music, etc.

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 9:10am

Additionally AEA and the musician’s union aren’t mutually exclusive. This immersive production can use AEA members and zero human musicians very easily. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 10:12am

Sleep No More and other well-known immersive productions have used many AEA actors over the years. Those performers essentially waive their union protections to do the show for the duration of their contract. They still have their health insurance, etc., but they work for under union minimum and don’t have the same kind of union oversights to protect them within the workplace.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 11:13am

FANtomFollies said: "
That doesn't mean it's a union show. AEA actors do off-broadway all the time but those shows are not under a union contract and therefore don't have to follow rules about live music, etc.

"

This is not correct. There are very few circumstances in which AEA members are permitted to work in any way without some kind of AEA agreement in place, particularly in the case of full productions in NYC. (As ColorTheHours notes, Sleep No More was one of these rare exceptions- due to the unique and novel demands of that production, it was essentially impossible to put on a union contract). 

But this is indeed an AEA production working under an AEA contract, per the audition notices posted last year. I don’t know how they’re approaching the music but based on what little we know about this, it does not seem logistically feasible to have live music. 

Updated On: 6/29/25 at 11:13 AM

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 6/29/25 at 11:41pm

Kad said: "FANtomFollies said: "
That doesn't mean it's a union show. AEA actors do off-broadway all the time but those shows are not under a union contract and therefore don't have to follow rules about live music, etc.

"

This is not correct. There are very few circumstances in which AEA members are permitted to work in any way without some kind of AEA agreement in place, particularlyin the case of full productions in NYC. (As ColorTheHours notes, Sleep No More was one of these rare exceptions- due to the unique and novel demands of that production, it was essentially impossible to put on a union contract).

But this is indeed an AEA production working under an AEA contract, per the audition notices posted last year. I don’t know how they’re approaching the music but based on what little we know about this, it does not seem logistically feasible to have live music."

Not to mention, I think some may be conflating the unions involved -- it's the musicians union that has established "house minimums" of live players, based on each Broadway house and their size. (And AEA respects that.) But being Off-Broadway -- and a purpose-built, immersive venue -- wouldn't necessarily preclude Actors Equity from being on board . (ETA: whoops, guess others beat me to the point.)

Updated On: 6/30/25 at 11:41 PM

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:12am

At about 7:50am, I received an email regarding tickets going on sale at 10:00am. I navigated to the page at around 9:40am. At 10:00am, the page refreshed and indicated that there were already more than 5,000 people ahead of me and the wait would be about 55 minutes.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:19am

Lot666 said: "At about 7:50am, I received an email regarding tickets going on sale at 10:00am. I navigated to the page at around 9:40am. At 10:00am, the page refreshed and indicated that there were already more than 5,000 people ahead of me and the wait would be about 55 minutes."

It said the same thing to me, but that rapidly decreased, and at 10:15 it just let me in.

Entry times every 15 minutes from 7PM to 8:15PM on days with evening-only performances.
$225 plus a $16.50 fee

Matinees  have 15 minute entry times beginning at 1PM and ending at 2:15 PM.
$195 plus a $16.50 fee.

Performances beginning July 31, booking through September 7 as of now.  Dark Mondays, but running Tuesday through Sunday, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.

Updated On: 6/30/25 at 10:19 AM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:20am

Sounds like pretty standard presale behavior. There’s always a mad rush to get the earliest dates in the run. If you don’t care about seeing it right away, wait a few hours for the traffic to slow down.

[StageDoor3]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:22am

Previews - $211.50. Tuesday through Sunday with Saturday and Sunday matinees and eves. Timed entry. Every 15 minutes from 7 pm to 8:15 pm (1 - 2:15 pm matinees).

But tickets only available for previews through September 7. I'm planning a November trip. So when will the regular run tickets go on sale and wonder how much they'll be?

Updated On: 6/30/25 at 10:22 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:27am

StageDoor3 said: "And previews only through September 7. I'm planning a November trip. So when will the regular run tickets go on sale and wonder how much they'll be?"

I'm looking for the same info, but I suspect we won't get it anytime soon.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:30am

sbflyfan said: "Entry times every 15 minutes from 7PM to 8:15PM on days with evening-only performances.
$225 plus a $16.50 fee

Matinees have 15 minute entry times beginning at 1PM and ending at 2:15 PM.
$195 plus a $16.50 fee."

The "every 15 minutes" schedule seems to support my previously-noted expectation that this will be a theme park-style, "continuous-load" experience, which likely also means there will be several casts and the music will not be performed live.

Updated On: 6/30/25 at 10:30 AM

[Sauja]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:31am

Will say that was one of the smoother presales I’ve had in a minute!

[whatsnext81]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:31am

If anyone is interested, the terms and conditions you have to approve are here https://masqueradenyc.com/terms-and-conditions/

And the most descriptive sections is:  

This experience takes place on multiple floors and guests will be moving both throughout the venue; and, in dimly lit and dark spaces over the course of the event; furthermore guests may experience strobing lights, theatrical haze, theatrical fog, exposure to open flame, exposure to white fuel, high-impact automation and rigging elements, exposure to the elements (ie. outdoors) continuous immersion, close-proximity with performers and audience members, extremely loud music and sound effects. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:32am

Wow! That was fast. I was #3900 when I entered and I had my tickets less than a half hour later.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:34am

Still nothing for me.  Did you get to pick your date?   I haven't gotten an email yet. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/30/25 at 10:35am

Phantom4ever said: "Still nothing for me. Did you get to pick your date? I haven't gotten an email yet."

Check your spam/junk.