Well remembered by local South Florida theater goers for its phenomenal run when it opened on February 26, 1991 as the premiere presentation of the newly built Broward Center for the Performing Arts… The US Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s monster hit musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA returns.Based on the classic novel Le Fantome de l’Opera by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command. But you probably already knew that since over 80 million people in 124 cities in 25 countries have seen the Broadway musical adaptation of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
The musical had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award, including the Olivier and the Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988, where it won seven 1988 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Worldwide, the show consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history.
On January 6, 2006, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest-running musical in Broadway history, surpassing CATS’ record-holding 18 year Broadway run (and 7,485 performances). The Oscar winning film adaptation was released in 2004 and starred Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson and Minnie Driver.
The current tour stars Tim Martin Gleason as The Phantom, Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul and Trista Moldovan and Kelly Jeanne Grant alternate the role of Christine.
The US Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, begins performances at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 23, 2009, brings in the New Year, and runs through January 17, 2010.
