In 2015, the musical "Phantom of the Theater" was unforgettable in China, and since 1988, the musical "Phantom of the Theater" has been a regular Broadway repertoire.

Guangzhou and Beijing performances exploded hundreds of times! ?

Beijing Tianqiao Art Center opening drama! ?

Half the box office of Chinese musicals in 2015! ?

Recently, a news that a certain musical was stopped on Broadway has flooded the performance circle, which has broken many drama fans. This musical is one of the most famous musicals on Broadway - " Theater Phantom ".

In 2015, the musical "Phantom of the Opera" set off an unforgettable craze in China, and since 1988, the musical "Phantom of the Opera" has been a regular Broadway repertoire. The longest-running musical in Broadway history will celebrate its 35th anniversary in January 2023 and will have its final performance on Broadway on February 18, 2023.

In a telephone interview on September 17, 75-year-old London-based McIntosh explained the decision. "You don't want to have a great show underground," he said. "This has been one of my mantras throughout my long career: it's an art to end a show and start a show."

Elaborate sets and costumes, a huge cast and an orchestra are all key factors that make The Phantom of the Theater. A Broadway show may press the pause button, but the classics will last forever. Let's review the charm of Theater together!

"Phantom of the Theater" plot

Love story that took place in the Paris Opera House in France in the 19th century

Musical "Phantom of the Theater" describes the love story that took place in the Paris Opera House in France in the 19th century.

"Phantom", a musical genius born in an aristocratic family, but looks ugly. Because of his terrifying appearance, he was rejected by the glamorous world, without honor or love, and lived underground in the Paris Opera House for many years. However, his ugly appearance could not conceal his innate aristocratic temperament and outstanding talent, and could not suppress his pursuit of love. He loved Christine, a dancer who looked unknown in the Paris Opera House. "Phantom" created beautiful music for her, taught her to sing, and helped her become the opera goddess who fell in love with the whole of Paris.

"Phantom" poured all the enthusiasm into Christine, and became soft and warm because of her. She represents all his pursuit of rationality (love of music) and irrationality (the madness of love). Therefore, when witnessing Christine vows with the theater investor and childhood playmate Raoul on the roof of the Paris Opera House, the heart of "Phantom" was broken...

The "Phantom" in the musical is an angel, a devil, and a ghost of the opera house.

If you only watch one musical in your life

It must be "The Phantom of the Opera"

musical "The Phantom of the Opera" (also translated into "The Phantom of the Opera), " Phantom of the Opera", or "The Ghost of the Opera", which is adapted from the Gothic romance novel of the same name by the French writer Gaston Louis Alfred Leru. The London Daily Mirror once praised "If you only watch one musical in your life, this movie will definitely be your lifelong choice."

"The Phantom of the Theater" is one of the masterpieces of musical master Andrew Loy Weber . The play premiered at the Queen's Theatre in London on October 9, 1986. It was played by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman as the leading actors. It was a successful debut. It has since flourished and became the second long-lived musical in the West End (currently second only to " Les Miserables " in London). Two years after its debut, it landed on Broadway, New York, USA. The New York production version of the show has been staged in 1988 and has broken the record of continuous performances set by "Cat" in 2006, becoming the longest-lived musical in Broadway's history. "The Phantom of the Theater" has been performed in 183 cities around the world, and is available in 17 different languages.

The Queen's Theater in London, England, the musical "Phantom of the Theater" debuted in 1986. As a classic musical that has been staged for more than 30 years, "Phantom of the Theater" is simply a money printing machine. Until in recent years, on Broadway, the Queen's Theater on the West End of London, England, "Phantom of the Theater" is still a popular performance. If tourists want to buy their ideal seats, they still have to make an appointment online more than half a month in advance and then queue up to enter the venue.

In 2020, the new crown epidemic swept the world, and Broadway became a more severely affected area, closed for a full 18 months. On October 22, 2021, the Broadway version of "The Phantom of the Theater" starred again after more than a year of suspension of performances. Its box office also exceeded one million US dollars that week, and its recovery momentum was good. However, the box office of a million-dollar dollar is just a flash in the pan. Since New York tourists have not yet recovered to the , the number of tourists who have watched TV shows on Broadway has also decreased. The box office of "The Phantom of the Theater" has also declined continuously, with a weekly box office of only about 850,000 US dollars, which cannot cover the huge venues and cast and crew costs, so it can only announce the suspension of performances. It is reported that the last performance on Broadway will be held on February 18, 2023, and the longest performance record will be frozen at 13,925 shows.

Cameron McIntosh

The most regrettable thing is that the Broadway version of "The Phantom of the Theater" also has Chinese actress Cao Xiaoxiao. Although the performance was not a major role, Cao Xiaoxiao was the first Chinese actress in the play. After the performance was stopped, it would be difficult for the audience to see the performance of this Chinese actress and female ballet dancer in this play.

Ballet dancer Cao Xiaoxiao

One of the four major musicals recognized in the world

Commemoration of a love story

"Phantom of the Theater" is one of the four major musicals recognized in the world. As of 2019, the global box office has exceeded 6 billion US dollars. Behind it is also a love story.

"Cat"

"Phantom of the Theater"

"Miss Saigon"

"Les Miserables"

"Cat", "Phantom of the Theater", "Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables" are also known as the world's four major musicals.

The original card of "The Phantom of the Theater" is played by British female singer Sarah Brightman . Her ethereal high notes fit perfectly with the heroine, because this show was tailor-made for her by her ex-husband Andrew Loy Webber.

Liu Huan and Sarah Brightman sang "You and Me" at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics

981, when Weber was interviewing for the actors for the musical "Cat", they met Sarah Brightman who came to apply for the job. They were shocking, and Sarah was also attracted by Weber's talent and the two fell in love. In 1984, Sarah became Webber's second wife and began to play the leading role in several of Webber's musicals. Weber, who was immersed in love at that time, tailored the "Phantom of the Theater" for her, and her debut in London in 1986 was a great success. Two years later, when the show was on Broadway in the United States, the United States asked to replace Brightman on the grounds of popularity. In order to make Brightman continue to star in, Weber even threatened to stop performing the show. In the end, Sarah became the heroine of the Broadway premiere, and the show also won 7 Tony Awards that year.

Although Weber and Sarah later divorced, "The Phantom of the Theater" has always been one of Sarah Brightman's favorites. She also maintained a friendly relationship with Weber. In the performances of "Webber's 50th Birthday Concert" and "The Phantom of the Theater", Sarah still appeared as the first female lead and sang the classic singing segments.

British princess Diana is also a loyal fan!

There is another anecdote about "The Phantom of the Theater". The late former British princess Diana is a loyal fan and especially likes the song "All I ask of you".In the fourth season of the popular British drama "The Crown", there was also a clip where Diana put on a costume and filmed the MV of the song in the theater, and gave it to Charles as a gift for the 7th anniversary of her marriage.

Princess Diana

Whether this matter is true or false has always been the focus of everyone's debate, after all, no one has ever seen this videotape. However, writer Chuck Conconney wrote a column in The Washington Post in 1998, saying that Diana went to London's West End Theater, where she filmed the film under the guidance of official stage design, and composer Weber was also present at the time. However, the chief information organizer of "Crown" said that although Diana went to the West End, it is still unknown whether she sang, danced, and performed.

"Phantom fever" is unforgettable, and the Chinese version of "Phantom of the Theater" is coming soon!

In 2004, the musical "Phantom of the Theater" first appeared on the Chinese stage; in 2015, the drama launched the second round of China tour, and performed at venues such as Guangzhou Grand Theater , Beijing Tianqiao Art Center, and once again sparked the "Phantom fever" in China.

From September to October 2015, the Guangzhou Grand Theater staged "Phantom of the Theater"

Currently, although "Phantom of the Theater" has been suspended on Broadway, it does not mean that the show has disappeared. "The Phantom of the Theatre" is still being performed in London's West End; not long ago, the Australian version of "The Phantom of the Theatre" also began to be staged; movie star Antonio Banderas is also rehearsing the play's Spanish version... Next year, the Chinese version of "The Phantom of the Theatre" will finally come! It will be the eighteenth performance language version of the show.

After five years of accumulation, the Chinese version of the musical "Phantom of the Theater" officially started its creation, and the news of recruiting actors from all over the world was released on the evening of July 15, 2022. The first Chinese version is produced by Shanghai Cultural and Radio Performing Arts Group, produced by Shanghai Musical Theatre Arts Center, and the "World Tour Edition" creative team, the British True Good Group and TROIKA, and are planned to be released in 2023.

As Cameron McIntosh said: " Although the Phantom of Gaston Leru has disappeared now, there is no doubt that Andrew Loy Webber's classic work can still attract audiences in London and around the world, and it will one day return to Broadway."

Before Broadway returns, let's look forward to the wonderful Chinese version of the legendary movement together!