The original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running musical The Phantom of the Opera has hit a new milestone at His Majesty’s Theatre in London.
Today, 9 October 2024, Phantom celebrates its 38th birthday in the West End.
Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the show officially opened on 9 October 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, now called His Majesty’s Theatre, following preview performances which started on 27 September 1986.
The birthday milestone comes one day after another long-running Cameron Mackintosh show hit a milestone, with Les Miserables at the West End’s Sondheim Theatre celebrating its 39th Birthday in London.
Following Phantom‘s opening in London, the epic show went on to win every major British theatre award, including multiple Olivier Awards. The Broadway production then opened in New York in 1988, winning seven Tony Awards.
The Phantom of the Opera is the West End’s third longest-running show ever, only behind The Mousetrap and Les Miserables.
The Box Five Club
In other Andrew Lloyd Webber news today, the composer’s production and licensing company The Really Useful Group has launched a new home for fans of musical theatre called The Box Five Club.
Named after Box number five at the Palais Garnier opera house in The Phantom of the Opera, which must always be kept empty for the Phantom, the new free club invites fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals to explore unseen archives, behind-the-scenes videos, articles and special previews from new shows and music.
To celebrate today’s Phantom anniversary, The Box Five Club is launching a programme of content celebrating the how, including never-seen before photography, news articles and video content.
Phantom exhibition in London
An exhibition of The Phantom of the Opera memorabilia is also coming to London from 11 October 2024 at House of MinaLima London in Soho (157 Wardour Street, London W1F 8WQ).
The narrative exhibit will feature key Phantom theatre props, and The Phantom’s famed mask and Christine’s costume.
Also there will be three exclusive, limited-edition art prints designed by Studio MinaLima on sale, inspired by moments from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical.
Phantom current cast
The current cast of the musical includes Dean Chisnall as The Phantom, Lily Kerhoas as Christine Daaé, Joe Griffiths-Brown as Raoul, Joanna Ampil as Carlotta Giudicelli, Martin Ball as Monsieur Firmin, Helen Hobson as Madame Giry, Millie Lyon as Meg Giry, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André and David Kristopher-Brown as Ubaldo Piangi.
The cast also includes Anya Alindada, Lily Allen-Dodd, George Arvidson, Embla Bishop, David Burilin, Fergus Dale, Emily George, Molly Hall, Will Hawksworth, Nicholas Hepher, Mandy Kwan, and Jess Michelmore, Johnny Randall, Leonard Cook, Colleen Rose Curran, Michael Colbourne, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Serina Faull, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Melanie Gowie, Samuel Haughton, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Janet Mooney, Tim Morgan, Zoë Soleil Vallée, Jasmine Wallis and Victoria Ward; and at certain performances the role of Christine Daaé is played by Eve Shanu-Wilson.
The Phantom of the Opera has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, and additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. The book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the novel ‘Le Fantôme de l’Opera’ by Gaston Leroux.
Phantom’s creative team also includes Orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber; Musical Supervision is by Simon Lee; Production Design by Maria Björnson; Set Design adapted by Matt Kinley; Associate Costume Design by Jill Parker; Lighting by Andrew Bridge; Associate Lighting Design by Warren Letton; Sound by Mick Potter; and Musical Staging and Choreography by Gillian Lynne, recreated and adapted by Chrissie Cartwright. The show was originally Directed by Harold Prince, and this production is Directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn.
The Phantom of the Opera is currently booking to 27 September 2025.
Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre in London
His Majesty's Theatre, London
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