phantom of the opera 25th anniversary phantom kiss

So many of these factors have been key to attracting first-timers (many of them tourists) and repeat business, key to any long stage run. The gondola ride through the Phantom's lair shines even brighter. Ruthie I is in London, where the show has run since 1986. The one at the Majestic is nicknamed Ruthie II, after Prince's late colleague Ruth Mitchell. The show packs wall-to-wall eye candy, thanks to Maria Björnson's opulent costumes and sets. Lloyd Webber's score is filled with lush ear candy.

It's spectacularly entertaining and features atmospheric romance. So what's the secret to the longevity of this vintage Best Musical Tony winner?

'People pour in by the bucketful, especially on weekends.' ''The Phantom' is the primary reason for our late-dinner rush,' says manager Angela Cawley. About 125 cast, crew, orchestra members and house personnel are directly involved in each performance. That includes actors, musicians and backstage hands and other staff. 'The Music of the Night' - one of Lloyd Webber's famous anthems - has meant sweet music for New York's economy. It has also employed thousands and added luster to Broadway. Twenty-five years later, this powerhouse has cumulative earnings of $890 million.Īround the world it has grossed $5.6 billion - which makes 'Phantom' a blockbuster bigger than the films 'Titanic' and 'Avatar.'Īs a result it has made the creative team, including producer Cameron Mackintosh, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Harold Prince, to name a few, incredibly rich. The enduring power of 'The Phantom' is phenomenal. It's a place that worships devoutly at the altar of 'What's New?' It isn't Old York. It's a city that grows bored easily and turns blasé in a blink. That is all the more resonant since this is New York.

Phantom of the opera 25th anniversary phantom kiss