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Phantom of the Opera Broadway

Phantom of the Opera (Broadway) became the longest running musical drama in Broadway history last year. The Andrew Lloyd Webber script is produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company Inc.; Harold Prince directs it. This musical exceeds the amazing popularity of the second longest performed musical, Les Miserables, thrilling audiences worldwide.

The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway) lends its success to the over $3.2 (billion) plus sales grossed worldwide. It has won numerous awards, including the Tony Awards, seven in fact. Worldwide alone it has been seen by over 10 (million) people and totaled a gross of over $530 (million).

New York's Broadway theatre district celebrated 16 years of Phantom of the Opera in January 2006. It appears that the show's popularity is neverending, with ticket sales continuously running out. Since its final performance, Cats, after an 18 year run, will no longer precede Phantom of the Opera in priority of showings.

Phantom of the Opera (Broadway) stems from a novel that was written by Gaston Leroux, “Le Fantôme de l'Opéra”, which was originally published in Paris and only in French. Since its first translation into English, and its many subsequent translations into English and many other languages, its popularity as a musical drama has been unprecedented. The show features the original story line with an obsessed, disfigured and lonely masked man who lives below the Paris Opera House, and creates a world of terror for the owners and operatic performers, especially one beautiful soprano called Christine. He swears his devotion, develops her talents and then tries to lure her into marriage and away from the real man she loves.

The Broadway musical hosts a range of outstanding star performers, including Hugh Panaro, Sandra Joseph/Julie Hanson and John Cudia. Other amazing vocals are heard from Jeff Keller, George Lee Andrews, Patricia Phillips, Marilyn Caskey, Larry Wayne Morbitt and Heather McFadden.

The original Phantom of the Opera appeared at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, England on 9 October, 1986. When it reached New York, Phantom of the Opera (Broadway) started with a deficit advanced of about $18 (million). However, this soon saw profits that exceeded everyone's expectations, and award upon awards. The music alone hit British charts at number one place, something never done before by a musical in British history. It went on with its additional showing on Broadway to exceed platinum recording sales, which now well exceed 26 million.

The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway) also owes credit to lyrics written by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. Other Broadway credits have also been given to Andrew Bridge (lighting), Martin Levan (sound), Gillian Lynne (choreography and staging – musical), and David Cullen/Andrew Lloyd Webber (orchestrations).

Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.