My Love for The Phantom

One of my favorite Broadway plays of all time is The Phantom of the Opera. I’ve seen it many times — even in the original playhouse in London’s West End — but I never lose my awe for it. I’m mesmerized by the music, acting, grand costumes, and amazing set design. If you’ve never seen it, buy tickets today and go as soon as you can. You won’t regret it. It’s a fantastic production!

The Phantom of the Opera is the winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been seen by over 80 million people in 124 cities in 25 countries. On January 9, 2006, it became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats’ record-holding run of 7,485 performances. Since then, the Broadway and US national touring companies have played more than 20,000 performances in the US! In 2008, the show celebrated an unprecedented milestone when it reached its twentieth anniversary on Broadway. And if all of that wasn’t impressive enough, the Phantom has grossed more than any film or stage play in history, surpassing Hollywood blockbusters like Titanic, ET, and Star Wars. Wow!

This year, Dallas Summer Musicals is celebrating 70 years of Broadway, and The Phantom of the Opera is kicking off their new season. Gary and I have season tickets, so we were really excited about the opportunity to see the show again. We trekked downtown tonight to enjoy it one more time before the tour ends. Once again, it blew me away. I absolutely LOVE this show. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius.

You can’t take pictures during the show, but here are a few images I captured with my iPhone before the opening and during intermission. Enjoy!

Opening stage set for the auction. The chandelier is covered in the middle of the stage.

Our souvenir tickets and the playbill

Inside the Music Hall at Fair Park before the show

Resetting the chandelier during intermission

The ornate facade of the majestic “Paris Opera House”