I have never forgotten the time when, as a much younger girl that I am now, I went with my musical-loving mother to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway. We were both memorized by the music, the costumes, the set (I’ve never forgot the hanging chandelier), the lighting, the magic. We both talked about the show and listened to the show’s soundtrack for many days after that and the CD traveled me with me across many continents in my days during and after college.
When I was offered a pair of tickets to see the show which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, I was admittedly excited. Any chance to relive my youth, I take it. It wasn’t exactly on my list of shows to see this year, but now that I’ve seen it, it made every bit of sense on why it should be on any Broadway fan’s docket.
It’s also the longest-running show in Broadway history. On January 9th, 2006, it surpassed the then-record 7,485 performance run of Cats.) Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux, the show tells the story of a masked figure (played by Hugh Panaro) 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 (played exquisitely by Mary Michael Patterson), and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.
The cast stands out musically. They are true artistes and the singing is beautiful and haunting. The show hasn’t changed much in the last 25 years but I wouldn’t really want it to. It’s the total Broadway experience, just as much as it was then, and I was every bit on the end of my seat today as I once was.
Beginning Friday, November 29th at 12:01 am through Tuesday, December, 24 at 11:59 pm, all seats for PHANTOM this winter are on sale with tickets starting as low as $27 and orchestra and front mezzanine seats at $85 (regularly $137) for Tuesday through Thursday performances and $95 (regularly $137) for Monday evenings and Fridays and Saturdays. To order tickets, visit Telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200. Valid for performances from Monday, January 6 through Saturday, March 8th excluding February 14th & 17th.
I’m thrilled to be giving away two tickets to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!
To win, just comment below and let me know if you’ve seen the show before and a memory from the experience.
You can get additional entries by doing one of or more of the following:
– Follow The Culture Mom on Facebook.
– Follow The Culture Mom on Twitter.
– Follow The Culture Mom on Pinterest.
Winner will be selected randomly. This giveaway will end on Suday, November 17th at 10pm EST. Tickets will be available for a Tuesday night performance at 7pm, Wednesday matinee at 2pm or Wednesday night at 8pm, excluding all holiday weeks.
Winner swill be posted here, on the Culture Mom Facebook page and via email and will have 24 hours to accept their prize.
Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post, however I received a pair of tickets to facilitate this review.
Follow
Saw it in Los Angeles in 1989 (Michael Crawford) – one of my first dates with my now husband! I listened to the soundtrack every day for months afterwards! @annabellekline
I saw the show with my teenage kids! i love their faces watching theater!
I follow you on twitter as @AmandaFlanagan
I follow you on pinterest @amandacalla
I’ve never seen the show before but I would love to! Phantom of the Opera is at the top of my must see broadway shows list. I’ve always heard excellent things about this show and I would enjoy seeing it in person.
I follow you on Pinterest as http://Www.Pinterest.Com/madamerkf
I follow you on twitter as @madamerkf
I follow you on Facebook as Wendy Wallach Zephier
I saw the show quite sometime ago for my daughters birthday. A memory I have was the chandelier falling from the ceiling during the she. Cool moment!
I have not seen this show, but have always wanted to see it!
I have never seen the show but would absolutely LOVE to! I love broadway and feel so fortunate to leave near the city to enjoy the magic of broadway!
My teen theater loving daughter and I have seen it locally, but never on Broadway! It is her first choice of shows to see and I would love to bring her! She plans on studying theater in college starting next year so we have to find a way to see Phantom on Broadway.
You are the winner! I’ll be in touch.
liked you on fb
js48
verizon
I remember all those songs ..over and over and over again. I’d like to see this on Broadway !
I follow you on Pinterest (@CultureBaby)
I follow you on twitter (@MonicaDreger)
I follow you on facebook!
I can’t believe it but I have never seen it!! SOOO want to take my daughter though so we can have our first B. viewing together
I follow you on Twitter from at Movidude74
I follow you on facebook
I was not a fan of Sarah Brightman so I got the best of all worlds when I saw it original cast . . . but the Matinee Christine instead.
And now I follow you on Pinterest as well! @artfeedonline
I have liked you on facebook for some time now
I have seen it once before , long ago, and remember that it took weeks/months to get those beautiful songs out of my head
I follow you on Twitter, too @real_wetmogwai
I follow you on facebook.
I already follow you on Twitter, too
@artfeedonline
I already follow you on Facebook
I pride myself on being someone who lives an artful, creative and culture-filled lifestyle, but I feel like a culture-failure for having never gotten to this show. I hope that changes with this contest!
Also follow you on Pinterest.
This was the first show I ever saw when I was a little kid, back when Michael Crawford was starring. It’s the show that turned me on to theatre, which led me to major in Theatre Arts and become the first male in the history of my college to graduate with a Dance minor. I haven’t seen Phantom in ages and really want to this year for the anniversary!
And, I follow you on Twitter (@ladystardust25).
I already follow you on Facebook.
I’ve seen the show several times, and the first was probably the coolest – it was in Toronto, when I was just a wee middle schooler, and the great Colm Wilkinson was Phantom!!
Also cool was the fact that his Christine, Rebecca Caine, was the original London Cosette to his Valjean! Plus a young unknown Canadian dancer named Neve Campbell was in the ballet corps (and a Meg understudy)! I had grown up listening to the cast recording, so it was just such a thrill to finally see it onstage at the Pantages theatre.