By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. A place to discuss all things Broadway as well as other plays and musicals! Following the industry-wide shut down due to the Covid pandemic, the Broadway production reopened on October 22, 2021 with an outdoor block party that made headlines around the world. Ben has also starred in over twenty regional theatre productions ranging from Che in Evita (Studio Tenn), Starbuck in 110 in the Shade (Ford's Theatre), Luther Billis in South Pacific (Ogunquit . The final performance will be on Sunday, April 16. At certain performances, Julia Udine plays the role of 'Christine.'. The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega hit musical, is closing after more than 35 years. Seamlessly booking your Phantom of the Opera tickets on, Christine Daa is played by Emilie Kouatchou, Monsieur Firmin is played by Craig Bennet, Carlotta Guidicell is played by Raquel Suarez Groen, The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway is currently showing at the Majestic Theater on 247 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. ", Steve Barton (from left), Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman during the curtain call at the end of the premiere performance of The Phantom of the Opera on Jan. 26, 1988 at New York's Majestic Theatre. All guests must wear a mask at all times except when eating or drinking in the designated areas. Producer Cameron Mackintosh says Phantom was losing money, even before the pandemic. The Phantom Of The Opera takes place in the decadent Paris Opera House where the Phantom - a man ashamed of his physical appearance - hides from the real world in the darkness of the theatre. Meghan Picerno and Ben Crawford in "The Phantom of the Opera", This production ended its run on April 16, 2023, You Pick the Nominees! you have to do what sets you apart. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Emilie Kouatchou (left) and Ben Crawford in Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera." Matthew Murphy. Webber does an amazing job of creating these specific characters, who, as an actor, you can also just embody them differently. The production value, the set pieces, and the costumes are truly magnificent! The cast is ledbyBen Crawfordas The Phantom,Meghan Picernoas Christine andJohn Riddleas Raoul. What Ben Crawford Does That No Other Broadway Phantom Has Find out which is the perfect one for you! Learn how to book a Klook car rental and enjoy driving abroad through this short guide! Musical staging and choreography is by the late Gillian Lynne. Based on Gaston Lerouxs 1910 novel, Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a love triangle that blossoms after two businessmen take ownership of a haunted opera house. There are plans for some surprises at the final curtain call. Crawford currently stars as The Phantom, and Connolly previously played Meg Giry in the long . Mackintosh pulled the same maneuver with Londons Les Misrables at whats now the Sondheim Theatre. 'Phantom of the Opera' closes on Broadway with Andrew Lloyd Webber Lucy St. Louis recently became the first Black actor to play the role when she reopened the London production of Phantom as Christine in July. 'Phantom of the Opera' to close after 35 years on Broadway: sources 100 Reasons Why You Should Visit Disneyland Resort California This Year. On Sunday night, April 16, the curtain will fall on the longest-running show in Broadway history. Check out this. PHANTOM currently plays Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 8pm and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm. Ben Crawford and Kaley Ann Voorhees Matthew Murphy. Choose Your Favorites for the 2023 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards. Christine a young soprano starts the musical with a small role in the show within the show, but becomes the Phantoms love interest and he uses his influence to get her the lead role by any means possible. The first Mandarin language version of PHANTOM, presented by SMG Live, with Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group and Troika Entertainment and based on the original production, will open in China at the Shanghai Grand Theatre in May 2023, which will be followed by a large-scale tour of China. But yeah, it was a wonderful night.. Scan this QR code to download the app now. He will give his final performance on Saturday night his 9,382nd. And not to mention the iconic chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the theater you wont get another experience like this on Broadway. . Kouatchou said just thinking of all the trailblazing Black women that were overlooked for the role but who nonetheless made it possible for her to play Christine makes her emotional. ThePhantom of the Opera marked Connolly's Broadway debut, but Crawford is a bonafide veteran, having appeared in Shrek The Musical,Les Misrables, Big Fish, On The Twentieth Century, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in addition to his extended tenure as the titular Phantom. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. They cheered when I first came on stage, the 25-year-old actor told TODAY via Zoom. Bring home some of the magic from Disneyland California! The Phantom of the Operawas nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1988 and took home seven, includingBest Musical. But shes at peace with how things unfolded. It marked the milestone by debuting its first Black Christine on Broadway, played by Emilie Kouatchou. | Thanks for contacting us. . If you're a thrill-seeker at heart, you'll fall head over heels in love with Orlando's most famous theme parks. The singing in the musical reaches some of the highest octaves. Current Phantom of the Opera star Ben Crawford will be out of the show for the final Broadway performance. "The Phantom of the Opera" has been playing on Broadway for nearly 35 years. The Phantom of the Opera has production design by the late Maria Bjrnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. Theres probably a number of reasons that Im not privy to and some things just are not meant to be at that time and thats OK, shew said. The Majestic Theatre, the best musical house on Broadway, has finally been freed up after nearly four decades. He was really adamant about making sure that Christine felt like me, and that I didnt have to put on any sort of airs that I thought an ingenue character had to be or a Christine had to be, she said. "The following week, we were profitable for the first time," Mackintosh said in a phone interview from London. Emilie Kouatchou is making her Broadway debut as an alternate for the role of Christine, which makes her the first Black performerto play the part on Broadway. The long-running musical resumes performances at the Majestic Theatre on October 22, marking its first show since the theater shutdown in March 2020. Ben Crawford's Understudy? : r/Broadway - Reddit The musical also changed the landscape for touring across the country - inspiring the renovation of theaters and opera houses across the country to house it and revitalizing the economies of countless U.S. cities. A favorite of theatre fans and industry members alike, the restaurant is sounding the call for positive reviews on Google. Widely considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular productions in history, the blockbuster phenomenon set the bar with its lavish sets and costumes, large cast and Broadway's largest orchestra - a perfect match for its sumptuous score and classic love story. By Randi Richardson. Phantom, sources said, has struggled to recover since it reopened in October 2021 following the pandemic closure, and is losing some $1 million a month. Former cast member Laird Mackintosh has a long history with the show, stretching back to the Toronto production from 1993 for 5 years (3 of them as Raoul and covering The Phantom). And holy moly, I've been there 33 and a half years." I will saythat.. "I was retiring anyway," he says. They also reflect a time gone by. Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera' plots a cautious return As much a part of the city landscape as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, The Phantom of the Opera has long been a New York City landmark. The Broadway staging of the London-originated show won seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Year after year, it remains a staple in the musical theatre canon, and Kouatchou attributes the musicals success to composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Please consider supporting us bywhitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.Thank you! While this Phantom will close for good in February, it would not be shocking to see it return in a much cheaper iteration in a few years. Still, Christine finds herself drawn to the mystery man. The right show could be grossing $3 million a week there, rather than $1 million from Phantom.. Griffith Observatory Guided Tour and Planetarium Ticket, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Half-Day Tour, Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Tour from Las Vegas, Kualoa Ranch UTV Raptor Experience in Hawaii, The Lion King Broadway Show Ticket in New York. Honestly, this was the perfect time for something like this to happen, even though it had been quite a long time. Unaware of Christine's love for Raoul, The Phantom's obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide. So, last September, he and Andrew Lloyd Webber announced a final date. Let your fantasies unwind because The Phantom of the Opera is officially back on the Broadway. hide caption, 25 Years Strong, 'Phantom Of The Opera' Kills And Kills Again, Not My Job: We Quiz T-Pain On 'The Phantom Of The Opera'. The Phantom of the Opera has music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe), and a book by Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber.